Lakhs take dip on Shahi Snan; Awahan boycotts ritual

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 15: The first Shahi Snan of the month-longArdh Kumbh started this morning with colour, fervour and festivity evenas a discordant note was struck when 'Aawahan', one of thirteenAkharas, boycotted the much revered bathing ritual.

Aawahan akhara, which participates in the Shahi Snan in the sacredwaters 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 akharasreached the Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythicalSaraswati. A total of thirteen akharas - Mahanirvani, Atal, Nirnajani,Anand, Joona, Aawahan, Agni, Nirmohi, Digambar, Nirvani, NayaPanchayati, 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 thesprawling 7000 acre Ardh Kumbh Mela area as saints from various Akharastoday 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 campsand placed their contingent in an order which is being followed fromolden times. Dhwaj (flag), God, Paduka (sleepers), Palki, Nagas(digambar) and then Maha mandleshwar followed by Ramta Panch, the fivepriests 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 onthe issue of bathing time but the Awahan had agreed to go ahead withthe scheduled programme. Mahant Gyan Das, the President of All IndiaAkhara Parishad, had late last night announced that the Shahi Snanwould take place as per the schedule prepared by the Melaadministration in consultation with the Akharas.

Traditionally, two akharas -- Awahan and Agni -- are clubbed withJoona Akahara during the Shahi Snan but Awahan asked for separate time.

Commissioner of Allahabad division R N Tripathi told UNI that thereason for the boycott was confined to akharas and the Melaadministration had nothing to do with it.''We had already made all thearrangements for a smooth Shahi Snan,'' he said.

He said the administration would try to resolve the matter beforethe next Shahi Snan scheduled on Mauni Amavasya on Janauary 19.

Makar Sankranti is one of the six main bathing festivals duringthe Ardh Kumbh, and four days are for Shahi Snan - Mauni Amavasya (Jan19), Basant Panchami (Jan 23) and Mahashivratri (Feb 16) being theother three Shahi Snan days.

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

Massive security arrangements involving about ten thousand policepersonnel are in place for the Shahi Snan with senior officerssupervising the event.

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

UNI >