Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Mandsaur Councillor Continues 34-Year Ashes Immersion Tradition
Sunil Bansal is a councillor and social worker from Mandsaur.
For 34 years, he has taken ashes to Haridwar for immersion in the Ganga.
This year, the ashes of 24 people and 11 monkeys will be taken there.
The people include 18 men and six women.
Bansal started this work after taking his own family members’ ashes to Haridwar.
He later began helping other families at his own expense.
Families who cannot make the journey can give him the ashes.
A priest in Haridwar will perform ceremonies before the immersion.
Sunil Bansal will take the ashes of 24 people and 11 monkeys to Haridwar for immersion.
The remains include those of 18 men, six women and 11 monkeys.
Bansal has carried ashes to Haridwar during Pitru Paksha for 34 years.
He says he has previously immersed the ashes of more than 1,800 deceased people.
Families unable to travel to Haridwar can hand over ashes at Bansal Institute in Mandsaur.
- Who
- Mandsaur councillor and social worker Sunil Bansal, accompanied by 15 associates.
- What
- He will take the ashes of 24 people and 11 monkeys to Haridwar for immersion in the Ganga.
- When
- On Saturday, during Pitru Paksha; this is Bansal’s 34th consecutive year of the practice.
- Where
- The ashes will be collected in Mandsaur and immersed in the Ganga at Haridwar.
- Why
- Bansal provides the service for families who cannot take ashes to Haridwar because of financial or other difficulties.
- People’s remains
- 18 men and six women
- Animal remains
- 11 monkeys
- Tradition
- 34th year of carrying ashes to Haridwar
- Previous immersions
- More than 1,800 deceased people, according to Bansal
- Accompanying group
- 15 associates
- Ceremonies
- Pind daan and tarpan will be performed by Pandit Pradeep Jha
- Additional service
- Bansal’s Seva Bank serves free meals to more than 150 needy people daily