WATCH: 'Made youngsters quit tobacco & smoking, then why not Mahatamas', Baba Ramdev urges saints and seers at Kumbh to quit smoking

Yoga Guru Ramdev has urged saints and seers at the Kumbh Mela to quit smoking. 

"We follow Ram and Krishna who never smoked in their life then why should we? We must take a pledge to quit smoking," he said.

"We sadhus have left everything including our home, mother and father for a greater cause, then why we cannot leave smoking", he further added. 

He collected chillum (conical clay pipe) from several sadhus and made them take a pledge to quit tobacco. He said he will deposit all the chillum for display at the museum he will build.

"I have made youngsters quit tobacco and smoking, then why not Mahatamas," said Ramdev. 

Read: Government's Plea On Ayodhya Is An Election "gimmick": Mayawati

Meanwhile,   seers at the Dharam Sansad at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Wednesday have declared that construction of the Ram Mandir will begin on February 21. S

Swaroopanand Saraswati, the Dwarka Pith's Shankaracharya, made the announcement. He said that the foundation stone would be laid on February 21. He expressed that this would not be in violation of any court order, citing how till the Allahabad High Court's 2010 verdict is superceded by the Supreme Court, it would continue to apply. 

The 55-day long Kumbh Mela will end on March 4. It is the largest human congregation in the world, with over 130 million pilgrims expected to participate in the festival with the belief that taking a dip in the holy water of Ganges River will pave the way for their salvation and would rid them of their sins.

MASSIVE: At Kumbh, Dharam Sansad Declares That Ayodhya Ram Mandir's Construction Will Begin On February 21