Ardh Kumbh's first 'Shahi Snan' passes off peacefully

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Allahabad, Jan 15: The first 'Shahi Snan' (Royal Bath) of the month-long Ardh Kumbh Mela -- which started this morning with colour, fervour and festivity -- passed off peacefully amid boycott by one of the 13 Akharas.

Aawahan akhara, which participates in the Shahi Snan in the sacred waters of Sangam along with Joona Akhara, decided to boycott it, demanding separate timing for the much-revered bathing ritual.

Starting from Mahanirvani and Atal akharas, the various akharas reached Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati. A total of 13 akharas -- Mahanirvani, Atal, Nirnajani, Anand, Joona, Aawahan, Agni, Nirmohi, Digambar, Nirvani, Naya Panchayati, Bada Panchayati and Nirmal -- take part in the Shahi Snan, a major attraction of the largest religious fair in the world.

Chants of 'Har Har Gange' and' Har Har Mahadev' reverberated in the sprawling 7,000 acre mela area as saints from various akharas today took a holy dip in the sacred waters.

The procession moved on a specified route with paraphernalia seen only on this occasion.

Saffron clad saints moving on elephants, horses, palkis and on foot as well, lent special flavour to the fair.

The akharas started their processsion from their respective camps and placed their contingent in an order which is being followed since ancient times. Dhwaj (flag), God, paduka (sleeper), palki, nagas (digambar) and then Mahamandleshwar followed by Ramta Panch the five priests is the order in which the procession moves through.

As the akahras took bath one by one, the other devotees took a holy dip on other ghats.

Earlier, there had been a lot of bickering among the akharas on the issue of bathing time, but Awahan had agreed to go ahead with the scheduled programme.

Mahant Gyan Das, All India Akhara Parishad President Mahant Gyan Das had late last night announced that the Shahi Snan would take place as per the schedule prepared by the Mela administration in consultation with the akharas.

Traditionally, two akharas -- Awahan and Agni -- are clubbed with Joona Akahara during the Shahi Snan, but Awahan asked for separate timing this year. Allahabad commissioner R N Tripathi told UNI the reason for the boycott was confined to akharas and the mela administration had nothing to do with it. ''We had already made all the arrangements for a smooth Shahi Snan.'' He said the administration would try to resolve the matter before the next Shahi Snan scheduled on Mauni Amavasya on Janauary 19.

Makar Sankranti is one of the six main bathing festivals during the Ardh Kumbh Mela, and four days are for Shahi Snan - Mauni Amavasya (January 19), Basant Panchami (January 23) and Maha Shivratri (February 16) being the other three Shahi Snan days.

A total of six bathing festivals are observed during the mela starting from Paush Purnima, the first day of the Mela, followed by Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Maghi Purnima and Maha Shivratri.

Massive security arrangements involving about 10,000 policemen are in place for the Shahi Snan, with senior officers supervising the event.

Makar Sankranti bathing festival, fell on two days as the Sun entered the capricon only last night. Lakhs of pilgrims are flocking the Mela to take a holy dip.

UNI