Allahabad: The nip in the air notwithstanding, 24-year-old Naga seer, Raj Puri, from Bhilwara in Rajasthan moves around wearing over 51 kg Rudraksha rosaries around his body and on his head on the Mela ground. As he struts on the dusty lanes of the Kumbh-2019 venue, he mutters soft words to his pet, a white pigeon sitting atop his head.Hari Puri or or Kabootarwale Baba as he is fondly referred to and his pet, named Hari Puri by the Naga saint, are a big draw at the ongoing Kumbh mela. Both seem unruffled with what’s happening around on the busy Mela ground. In fact, Hari accompanied Raj when the seer took a dip in Sangam during the third and last shahi snan of Kumbh-2019. Hari fluttered and hovered on the Naga seer’s shoulders while he took a holy dip.A seer associated with Juna Akhara, Raj said, “I have been tending to pigeons since I was six. What attracts me most about these birds is that they are the real messengers of peace.”The seer said that these birds had been accompanying him ever since he gave up the materialistic life and joined Juna Akhara.Hari is one of the many pet pigeons, around 50 tells Raj, at his ashram in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. He considers pigeons as an incarnation of Lord Shiva and always prefers to move with his pet pigeon (Hari Puri) wherever his akhara goes.“These pigeons would be with me till my death,” he added.Raj’s pet pigeon is nestled between the strings of a 51-kg rudraksh necklace, coiled on his head.“These pigeons express their love and affection to saints. Hari always accompanies me while moving from one state to other and even in caves,” the Naga seer said.He also said that Hari was fond of cashew nuts, almonds, barley, wheat and biscuits.“Every person should serve a jeev (living being) to seek salvation,” he added.

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