Rickshaw drivers in Nashik removed lemons, chilies and black dolls from their vehicles !

In the name of eradicating superstition, ‘ANiS’ targets Hindu practices !
The incident occurred after ANiS’s ‘Anti-superstition’ conference

Nashik – Rickshaw drivers near Chandak Circle have removed lemons, chilies, and black dolls from their vehicles. Recently, at the CITU Bhavan in the city, during an ‘Anti-superstition’ conference organized by the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ANiS), slogans such as “Break the lemon-chili, connect with rationality” were raised. This action is believed to have occurred in that context. The rickshaw drivers stated that “lemons and chilies are merely food items and have no connection with good or bad luck.”

ANiS targets Hindu practices under the guise of “eradicating superstition.”

In Nashik, rickshaw drivers removed lemons–chilies & black dolls after an ANiS ‘anti-godman’ event.

These traditions are believed to ward off negative energies. But when Hindus aren’t taught the science… pic.twitter.com/ueWvCp5bNs

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) April 7, 2026

Rickshaw drivers Sharad Bhamare, Dilip Devre, Ganpat Sonawane, along with ANiS activists, were present in this initiative. (Today they removed lemons and chilies from rickshaws; tomorrow these same people may ask to remove pictures of Deities from homes or abandon family traditions as ‘superstitions.’ This act by the rickshaw drivers can be seen as a form of cultural attack on Hinduism ! – Editor)

Editorial Perspectives

Lemons and chilies are believed to have the ability to absorb negative energy. Therefore, they are tied to vehicles or placed at the entrance of homes. Until Hindus understand the ‘science’ and ‘principles’ behind religious practices, they will continue to be influenced by organisations like ANiS and undergo ideological conversion !
The organisation that says ‘connect with rationality’ has never been heard of conducting conferences against irrational practices of other religions ! Targeting only tolerant Hindus and uprooting the seeds of faith in their minds seems to be ANiS’s hidden agenda. It is unfortunate that in a holy city like Nashik, rickshaw drivers are being influenced by atheistic ideas !