The authorities at the ongoing Kumbh Mela are in no mood to
play along with Bollywood's plans to promote films at the mela, especially when
it comes to celebrity visits on the main bathing days.
However, the team of Ek Thi Daayan, who are scheduled to be in
Lucknow today, from where they will take off for Allahabad, aren't changing
their plans for the Kumbh Mela. Ekta Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi and Huma Qureshi
will be visiting the mela on February 9, and even participating in a yagya
organized at Parmarth Niketan. "All the three celebs have been invited by
the president of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji for a
mahayagya on February 9, to calm the negative spirits, if any, associated with
the film," informs a source.
After a dip in the holy waters, a get-together with several
musicians and singers including percussionist Sivamani is scheduled at the same
venue the next day, February 10. A discussion with the seers of a few ashrams
and akhadas and intellectuals of the city on whether daayans exist in real
life, and why only women are considered daayans and not men, will also be held
the same day.
Reacting to the news of the crew's plans, Devesh Chaturvedi,
the Allahabad Commissioner, said, "If these people want to go to the
ashram and do a yagya, they can do that, but we will not be able to provide any
security to them. And if there is any security problem, they will be
responsible for it and not the administration. We have already conveyed
everything officially to the concerned people, therefore we will not allow any
promotional activity within the mela area. Koi bhi problem hui toh utha ke band
kar denge inn logon ko."
To which the film's publicist handling the events in
Allahabad responded by texting us, "Citizens of a secular democracy do not
need permissions to pray to God. They are coming for a good cause and they
don't see a problem with that."
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