MP’s Mandsaur Councillor Continues 34-Year Tradition, Takes Ashes Of 24 People, 11 Monkeys To Haridwar

Mandsaur, a city in Madhya Pradesh, is witnessing a unique tradition as social worker and councillor Sunil Bansal continues his 34-year journey of taking the ashes of 24 people and 11 monkeys to Haridwar. This year marks the 34th year of the practice, which Bansal started after performing the rites for his own family members. So far, he has immersed the ashes of over 1,800 deceased individuals.

This year, a team of 15 associates will join him in the endeavor. Families who cannot afford to send their relatives' ashes to Haridwar can place them at the Bansal Institute located at Ganpati Chowk. Before the immersion, the urns will be worshipped by family and community members. In Haridwar, the rites of 'pind daan' and 'tarpan' will be performed by Pandit Pradeep Jha before the ashes are immersed in the Ganga.

Bansal also runs a Seva Bank initiative at Gandhi Square, where he serves free meals to more than 150 needy people daily. His family, including his son Shalabh Bansal, wife, and daughter, support his charitable work. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav, on a separate note, took an e-rickshaw ride and urged citizens to observe a 'no car day' every Friday.