Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be traveling to Anandpur Dham in the Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh on April 11 before the celebrations of Baisakhi on April 13. His proposed visit has again focused national attention on the Anandpur Trust — a religious, spiritual, and socio-cultural body that works mostly behind the scenes.
Anandpur Dham is the abode of Shri Paramhans Advaitanand Maharaj and the central ashram of the Advait sect. It is the only global headquarters of the Advait sect and is known for its well-established spiritual traditions and autonomous way of life. The ashram is currently run by the sixth Guru Padshahi and has grown significantly since it was established in 1930.
Anandpur Dham: A City Within Walls
Following the establishment of the spiritual center in 1933, the Anandpur Trust was officially registered on April 22, 1954. Now, it has thousands of acres of farmland and a sprawling 1,400 bighas of ashram land as its assets. Inside its giant walled boundary is a highly planned and hi-tech private city — with broad roads, parks, bridges, three bus stands, hi-tech buildings, helipads, fire brigades, and even its automobile manufacturing units.
In anticipation of the visit of PM Modi, fresh helipads have been newly built within the complex. The stringent security protocols and top-of-the-line facilities have long sparked curiosity among natives and foreigners.
Special Rules and Limited Access
What is more puzzling about Anandpur Trust is that it functions autocratically. The ashram has its own rules of functioning, with little intrusion from external agencies. Devotees and pilgrims are routed through certain entrance gates and chaperoned through certain routes to the temples of Guru Maharaj.
Security is extremely tight. Thousands of CCTV cameras, stacked barricades, and posted guards make it almost impossible for anyone to roam unsupervised. As the locals quip, “Not even a bird can fly unnoticed here.”
Local Media Kept at Bay for PM’s Program
Interestingly, officials have described PM Modi’s visit as a private event, raising eyebrows among local journalists and BJP workers. There is still no official confirmation regarding media access to the program. This has sparked citywide discussions on why the public and press are being kept at a distance during a visit by the country’s top leader.
While excitement mounts for the April 13 Baisakhi festival and the April 11 visit of PM Modi, Anandpur Dham continues to be a symbol of mystique and religiosity. Nestled deep in the heart of Ashoknagar, it stands as a mystical spiritual city marked by its exclusivity.
