Prayagraj: This Magh Mela, Bhoole Bhatke Shivir to be dedicated to wife of founder Raja Ram

PRAYAGRAJ: Continuing with the decades-old legacy, Bhoole Bhatke Shivir, also known as Lost &

Found camp

, is all set to serve millions of pilgrims arriving for the

Magh Mela

, with its team of volunteers.

Its volunteers have been reuniting people who get separated from their families in fairs like Magh Mela,

Ardh Kumbh

and

Maha Kumbh

, ever since its founder

Raja Ram

Tiwari started the camp in 1946 on mela campus.

When Tiwari died in August, 2016 at the age of 88, his son Umesh Tiwari took over the organisation.

Unfortunately, the wife of Raja Ram Tiwari,

Shanti Devi

(90), who too assisted her husband in reuniting families for more than 30 years, breathed her last at Gaure Poora Badal, Raniganj in Pratapgarh district on Tuesday evening.

Shanti’s family said, “She, along with Raja Ram, served the devotees at the mela for more than 30 years. She used to provide food to the separated people and took their care until they were reunited.”

Umesh Tiwari, the organiser of the camp, told TOI that Bhole Bhatke Shivir will come up in sector 2 of the mela ground, that is, on Triveni road.

“This year, we will dedicate the shivir to our mother Shanti Devi who served the devotees at the mela till 1980,” he added.

Volunteers hailing from cities like Sultanpur, Pratapgarh,

Jaunpur

, Prayagraj, Kanpur and Lucknow would be performing their duties on mela campus from day 1, informed Tiwari.

“They have reunited over 25 lakh missing people with their families since the formation of the shivir, and every year, the volunteers live up to its motto, “serve to mankind”. A group of 50 more volunteers from other states like Bihar and Madhya Pradesh will join our camp during the mela,” he said.

“We have chalked out an elaborate plan for grand annual fair. A team of volunteers will be deployed at all five sectors who would look for lost people and take them to the camp until they are reunited,” he added.

Apart from making frequent announcements, Tiwari mentioned that this Magh Mela, the volunteers will circulate details of missing people on social media platforms, and also form groups on popular messaging apps to reunite families.