Ramesh Baba personally made the announcement in the midst of the crowd of 15,000 pilgrims who had accompanied him on the 84-kos Braj parikrama. “When our marchers arrive in Delhi, we will make our demands known to the Prime Minister,” he said.

 “Up to this point, we have been fighting primarily for the protection of the hills of Braj,” said the renounced saint who is known for his environmentalism. “But this January we decided it was time to do something for the Yamuna, so we have started this new battle.”

 Some of Baba’s Gujarati disciples, who are scientists, have invented an aerator that can combat river contaminants. The machine was tested this year at the Kumbha Mela and found to be effective.

 Ramesh Baba said, “We are adopting this Gandhian strategy of a mass march in order to create awareness in the state and central governments of the massive concern that is there over the pollution problem. Then we will be able to propose solutions.”

The yatra will begin next March 1, with all the monks and their followers participating under the Maan Mandir banner. The march will follow the Yamuna’s banks from Allahabad with the accompaniment of Harinam sankirtan, stopping in every town and village on the way to speak to the local people and solicit their support. The yatra will end at the Lok Sabha in Delhi.

It is expected that devotees from both within and without India will participate in the march.