Police are urged to ensure the rebels are allowed to wear Osho’s ‘mala’ while taking part in the celebrations on March 21. As Osho lovers will be assembling in Pune to celebrate the spiritual leader’s 70th “Enlightenment Day” on March 21, a rebel group of devotees has sought police support for taking part in the celebrations. In a press release, Swami Chaitanya Keerti, one of the rebel Oshoites, said, “For the past 23 years, the Osho Ashram management has not been celebrating Osho’s birthday on 11 December, Osho’s Punyatithi 19 January, Osho’s Enlightenment Day on March 21, and Osho Full Moon (Guru Purnima in July). It has been celebrating only the monsoon festival in August and the New Year festival regularly. And about 500-700 people were attending. This year’s Osho Enlightenment Day celebration in Pune will bring together three or four times more people (1,500-2,100, or even more) than any monsoon festival.”