Create an HTML button that acts like a link --> It is believed that Sant Sevalal Maharaj was born on February 15 in 1739 in Gollala Doddi of Anantapur of Andhra Pradesh and subsequently travelled towards northern part with cattle and breathed his last at Pohradevi of Maharashtra. His followers built a tomb and started worshipping at the place.

A. Seetaram Naik, Mahabubabad MP from Telangana, has urged the Central government to officially recognise the birthday of Sri Sant Sevalal Maharaj, worshipped by crores of Banjaras across the country.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had accorded official recognition to Sant Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti celebrated every year on February 15, Prof. Naik said and thanked the Chief Minister for his positive initiative. He hoped other States would also give official recognition to the Jayanti.

Sant Sevalal hailed from Banjara community that played an important role during the Sepoy Mutiny and helped the sepoys fight against British harassment, Prof. Naik recalled while raising the issue in the Parliament on Wednesday. It is believed that Sant Sevalal Maharaj was born on February 15 in 1739 in Gollala Doddi of Anantapur of Andhra Pradesh and subsequently travelled towards northern part with cattle and breathed his last at Pohradevi of Maharashtra. His followers built a tomb and started worshipping at the place.

Sant Sevalal was a social reformer, bachelor and pure vegetarian and sacrificed his life for the welfare of Banjara community across the country. Lakhs of Banjara people would descend on Pohradevi Bhakti Dham in Yavanth Mall district without any government support. The MP urged the government to sanction funds for provision of basic infrastructure and accommodation facilities in the place as lakhs of people visited Sant Sevalal Maharaj Tomb to offer prayers on February 15 every year facing hardships due to want of basic facilities.

The Banajaras, constituting about 10 crore people across the country, were called with different names in different States such as Lambadis, Sugalies, Vanajara, Laban Banjaras. During the British rule, a specific Cattle Trespass Act was enacted in 1871 and they were identified as tribal in nature. The Banjaras with their unique and specific cultural traditions, dress code would speak in single script-less language ie Gorboli within the country and outside, he said.