Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati announces 81-day march for cow protection

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the ‘Shankaracharya’ of Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand, addressing a gathering in Lucknow on Wednesday (March 11, 2026), announced an 81-day campaign across Uttar Pradesh, beginning May 3, demanding that the cow be recognised as ‘Rashtra Mata’ (national mother), and that cow slaughter be banned across the country.

The campaign, titled ‘Kavishti Yatra’, a term used to describe a struggle for the protection of cows, would start in Gorakhpur and conclude there on July 23. The event in Lucknow was part of a four-day programme named ‘Gau Pratistha Dharmayuddh’, which began in Varanasi on March 7.

The yatra will travel through about 1.08 lakh villages across the State with the aim of spreading awareness about cow protection, and drawing attention to what Mr. Saraswati described as the ground realities surrounding the issue.

The religious leader is commencing the State-wide march weeks after police in Prayagraj registered a case against him on charges of molesting two minors, aged 14 and 17. The First Information Report was filed following directions from a special court.

Mr. Saraswati has denied the allegations, describing the case as “false” and “politically motivated”. The complaint was lodged weeks after a dispute with the Prayagraj district administration over alleged assaults on his followers during the Mauni Amavasya bathing day on January 18, 2026.

The conflict between the two sides continued for several weeks. During this period, the district administration issued two notices to Mr. Saraswati — one seeking clarification on his use of the title “Shankaracharya”, and another accusing him of creating a “stampede-like situation” at the religious gathering attended by millions of devotees.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also commented on the controversy and criticised Mr. Saraswati, without referring to him by name.

With the U.P. Assembly election expected by early next year, Mr. Saraswati reiterated that the proposed cow protection campaign was not intended to support any political party.