Lakhs take dip on Shahi Snan; Awahan Akhara boycotts ritual

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 15 (UNI) The first Shahi Snan of the month-long Ardh Kumbh started this morning with colour, fervour and festivity even as a discordant note was struck when 'Aawahan', one of thirteen Akharas, boycotted the much revered bathing ritual.

Aawahan akhara, which participates in the Shahi Snan in the sacred waters of the Ganga along with the Joona Akhara, decided to boycott it, demanding separate time for the same.

Starting from Mahanirvani and Atal akharas, the various akharas reached the Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. A total of thirteen 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, Har Har Mahadev reverberated in the sprawling 7000 acre Ardh Kumbh Mela area as saints from various Akharas today took a holy dip in the sacred waters of the Sangam.

Their processions 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 this Ardh Kumbh Mela.

The akharas started their processsion from their respective camps and placed their contingent in an order which is being followed from olden times. Dhwaj (flag), God, Paduka (sleepers), Palki, Nagas (digambar) and then Maha mandleshwar followed by Ramta Panch, the five priests is the order in which the procession moves through.

As the Akahras took a 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 the Awahan had agreed to go ahead with the scheduled programme. Mahant Gyan Das, the President of All India Akhara Parishad, 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 time.

Commissioner of Allahabad division R N Tripathi told UNI that 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.

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, and four days are for Shahi Snan - Mauni Amavasya (Jan 19), Basant Panchami (Jan 23) and Mahashivratri (Feb 16) being the other three Shahi Snan days.

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

Massive security arrangements involving about ten thousand police personnel are in place for the Shahi Snan with senior officers supervising the event.

The 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