“In lack of desired cooperation from Jabalpur Collector and administration, the much awaited Shree Shiv Mahapuran Katha of noted Kathavachak Pandit Pradeep Mishra, has been cancelled. This unfortunate development has made the devotees angry who were waiting for the programme for a long time,” alleged Pandit Purushottum Tiwari, the main organizer of Shree Shiv Mahapuran Katha.

Pandit Purushottum Tiwari was addressing a press conference called on Wednesday to inform about cancellation of Shree Shiv Mahapuran Katha which was scheduled to be organised at Ayurved College ground between June 1 and 7. Preparations were being conducted in the city for more than one year. Pandit Tiwari said that the organising committee made constant efforts to obtain permission for the programme since January 2023 by personally meeting the then Divisional Commissioner, Collector, Saurabh Kumar Suman and the then Superintendent of Police, Siddharth Bahuguna.

But after initial assurances, the officers concerned stopped showing any interest to organise the mega event making excuse of parking, venue and other arrangements. According to these officers, safely handling such a large number of devotees at Ayurvedic College ground will be quite challenging for the administration. They also suggested to shift the venue elsewhere, but it was not possible for the organising committee to arrange for such a mega event in such a short duration. Pandit Tiwari blamed the ignorant and careless attitude of the district administration for cancellation of

Pandit Pradeep Mishra’s programme which was to be organised for the first time in Sanskardhani.