Mauni Amavasya: Two crore take dips at Triveni Sangam

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Allahabad, Jan 19 (UNI) An estimated two crore devotees took the ritual dip at the Triveni Sangam here till this evening marking the festival of Mauni Amavasya -- the most auspicious bathing festival of Ardh Kumbh -- despite the Awahan Akhara boycotting the 'Shahi Snan.' ''An estimated two crore devotees have taken sacred dips in the Sangam till 1600 hrs on Mauni Amavasya, the most auspicious of the six bathing festivals of the Ardh Kumbh. The bathing festival started late last night and was likely to continue late this evening amid unprecedented security arrangements,'' Allahabad Divisional Commissioner R N Tripathi told newspersons here.

The flow of the devotees at the 30 ghats dotting the Ganga river and Sangam -- confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers -- was still continuing, he added.

Meanwhile, an elderly devotee hailing from the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh died of ezcessive cold and heart problems at the Sangam late last night. The body has been sent for post-mortem, Mr Tripathi maintained.

''So far the bathing is underway peacefully and no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere on the 7,000 acre fair arena,'' Mr Tripathi claimed.

Meanwhile, despite sustained efforts by the administration, the Awahan Akhara -- one of the 13 Akharas -- continued to boycott the Shahi Snan today also. The Akhara had boycotted the first of the three shahi snans -- Makar Sankranti on January 15 -- demanding separate time for their royal bath. It continued the boycott as the demand was not met this time also.

There are three shahi snans during the Kumbh -- Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya and Basant Panchami (January 23) -- which are the mainstay of the world largest religious congregation. The royal bath on Mauni Amavasya day is the most important shahi snan of the Kumbh.

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