UP celebrates Makar Sankrati with religious fervour

Lucknow, Jan 14 (UNI) Makar Sankranti was celebrated with fervour across Uttar Pradesh today with lakhs of people offering prayers to ''Ganga Ma'' and taking a holy dip.

Over 40 lakh Pilgrims converged on the sandy beds of the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, which is a confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers. People offered prayers to 'Ganga Maa' for the well-being of their loved ones and participated in the early morning 'Ganga Arti'.

According to Hindu mythology, a spiritual dip at Sangam is said to wash away all the sins and free human beings from the cycle of birth. The site of Sangam is a visual treat. One can see the muddy and pale yellow waters of Ganges merging with the green waters of the Yamuna. The Ganges is only four ft deep, while Yamuna is 40 ft deep near the point of nexus.

The river Yamuna ends at this point and Ganges continues after this till it meets at the Bay of Bengal.

A report from Varanasi said braving spine-chilling cold, devouts thronged the prominent ghats of the holy city to submerge themselves in the worship of river Ganga, whom they worship as 'Ganga Maa'.

Later, they offered prayers at the world famous Kashi Vishvanath temple and Sankatmochan temple.

In a customary ritual, sweets, sugarcane, peanuts and rice were given to the poor.

In Kanpur and Chitrakoot, people offered prayers to the rising Sun. It is believed that by worshipping Sun god on Makar Sankranti, one is absolved of sins.

In the state capital, people took a spiritual dip in the Gomti river. A Makar Sankranti fair was organised in Malihabad village, where women singing foke songs were the centre of attraction.

Similar reports were received from Mathura, Agra and Mahoba districts.

UNI