Kinnar Akhara founder expels famous actor Mamta Kulkarni Photo: PTI Kinnar Akhara founder expels famous actor Mamta Kulkarni Photo: PTI

The founder of Kinnar Akhara Rishi Ajay Das on Friday expelled famous actor Mamta Kulkarni from the much-talked-about Hindu religious order amid the Mahakumbh 2025. Besides hertmt play, Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi also got expelled for inducting Kulkarni.

Right after their touchdown, family members greeted the players with garlands and warm hugs, before accepting congratulations from the state political leaders such as minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla.

"There won't be a vacuum. Someone will come in my place, for sure. All the sports are like that. Sachin Tendulkar was there and now there is Virat Kohli, and someone will take his place tomorrow. So, Sreejesh was there yesterday, but someone else will come and take his place tomorrow," the goalkeeping stalwart told PTI in an interview at the India House in Paris.

For the past few days, the Kinnar Akhara has been at the center of a controversy concerning the appointment of former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni as Mahamandaleshwar.

According to a report by News18, Das was embroiled in a difference of opinion with Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, warning that they would remove Tripathi from the post. Tripathi reportedly has also been accused of treason for appointing Kulkari as Mahamandaleshwar without the founder's knowledge.

Rishi Ajay Das, founder of Kinnar Akhara, expels Mamta Kulkarni from the Akhara. He has also expelled Mahamandaleshwar Laxminarayan Tripathi from the Kinnar Akhara for inducting Mamta Kulkarni, who is accused of treason, to the Akhara and designating her as Mahamandaleshwar… pic.twitter.com/Hhzezst49r

— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2025Akharas And Maha Kumbh 2025 : Guardians Of Tradition At The World’s Largest Sacred Festival

BY Asha Kumari

About Kinnar Akhara

In Hindu religion, an 'akhara' is defined as a religious order. The Kinnar Akhara is a monastic order of transgender sadhus which was formed in 2018. It functions under the Juna Akhara.

The coveted title of Mahamandaleshwar which means the ‘chief of great or numerous monasteries’, is granted to Hindu monks of the Dashanami order. The revered title is traditionally given to spiritual leaders who play a vital role in religious discourse and social upliftment.

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BY Outlook Web Desk

Mamta Kulkarni Inducted To Kinnar Akhara

Renouncing the worldly life, Mamta Kulkarni associated herself with the Juna Akhara for the past two years. However, it was after the Mahakumbh 2025 began in Prayagraj, that Kulkarni took 'sanyas' by performing her own 'pind daan' and was appointed as the 'Mahamandaleshwar' of the Kinnar Akhara.

She was also given the spiritual name Yamai Mamta Nandgiri.Kulkarni's induction and instant promotion raised many eyebrows.

Mamta Kulkarni had a prominent career in Bollywood primarily in the 1990s when she starred in several Hindi films including Karan Arjun (1995)tmt play, Baazi (1995), and China Gate (1998). She was considered one of the leading actresses of that era and gained popularity for both her acting and her glamorous image.