Braving chill, 50 lakh devotees take holy dip on Makar Sankranti

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 14 (UNI) Braving biting cold, more than fifty lakh devotees took a holy dip in the sacred waters of Sangam--the confluence of holy river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati--on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in Ardh Kumbh.

Makar Sankranti, the day when the sun enters the northern the misphere, is an auspicious festival for Hindus who take a holy dip in the river Ganga and other rivers.

The festival, incidentally would be celebrated for two days.

About thirty-five lakh more pilgrims are expected to take bath till tomorrow.

Makar Sankranti would also mark the first of the four 'Shahi Snans (Royal Bath) during the month-long Ardh Kumbh mela- Mauni Amvaasya (Jan 19), Basant Panchami (Jan 23) and Mahashivratri (Feb 15).

The devotees started coming to Mela area since early morning and the bathing will continue all through tonight, Divisional Commissioner R N Tripathi told UNI here.

As many as 32 ghats have been set up by the Mela administration for pilgrims drawn from every nook and corner of India and abroad.

Elaborate security arrangements had been made in and around the area in apprehension of a terrorist strike during the Mela.

Over nine crore pilgrims are expected to visit Mela which commenced on Jnauary 3 to be concluded on February 16, on Mahashivratri day.

The bathing was conducted smoothly and no untowards incident was reported from anywhere in the Mela area, Mela Officer Pragyan Ram Mishra and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajiv Sabharwal told UNI