Thousands take holy dip during Ardh Kumbh mela

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 17: Arrangements are being made for the next bathing of Mauni Amavasya on January 19 and Basant Panchami on January 23 at the ongoing Ardh Kumbh mela here, Mela officer Pragyan Ram Mishra said today.

Talking to sources here, he said Mauni Amavasya is the most auspicious bathing festival during the month-long mela.

Braving the cold, pollution in the Ganga and scare of possible terrorist attacks thousands of devotees are arriving daily and taking a holy dip in the Ganga.

About 500,000 ''Kalpvasis'' and saints of various akharas are staying in the mela area, where decorated pandals in well-lit mela area and naga sadhus are the main attractions.

Two important bathingdays of the millennium, first ardh kumbh Paush Poornima (January 3) and Makar Sankranti, also the first Shahi Snan, have passed off peacefully.

Except Awahan akhara, all the akharas participated in first shahi snan on January 15. About three crore pilgrims are expected to participate in the mela, he said.

Mr Mishra said the administration was committed to smooth conduct of the remaining bathings.

Meanwhile, the 12th dharam sansad of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad opened here yesterday and arrangements are being made for the third Vishswa Hindu Sammelan to be held on February 11. A huge pandal is being erected in the mela area for the three-day sammelan.

Parishad General Secretary Praveen Togadia said delegates from about 100,000 villages and abroad would participate in the sammelan.

This year the mela is spread out in 7,151 bighas of land and has been divided into eleven sectors.

Shankaracharyas, maha Mandeleshwars and other prominent saints are already camping in their respective tents and conducting spiritual discourses. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the fair.

The North Central Railway has decided to stop selling of platform tickets on January 19,21,23 and February 2 and 16 in view of the heavy rush of pilgrims.

The Railways is already running special trains for the devotees.

UNI