25 lakh pilgrims to take holy dip at Sangam tomorrow

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Feb 1 (UNI) Over 25 lakh pilgrims are expected to take a holy dip in the sacred waters of Sangam -- the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati tomorrow, on the occasion of Maghi Purnima, the penultimate of the six bathing festivals of the month-long Ardh Kumbh Mela.

All the 29 ghats have been opened to public, since there is no shahi snan tomorrow, Mela Officer Pragyam Ram Mishra told newsmen this evening.

Earlier, a gathering of over one crore was expected, but as the pilgrims' flow suggest, only 25 lakh people are expected to visit the mela area, Mr Mishra informed.

Meanwhile, the sadhus, saints and about 5 lakh kalpvasis staying in the mela area have started packing bags.

After a month-long stay here, they would leave for respective destinations beginning February 2, although the mela would continue till February 16, the Mahashivratri day.

''The mela administration would ensure smooth exit of kalpvasis from tomorrow noon onwards,'' Mr Mishra added.

Maghi Purnima would mark the completion of their 30-day stay at the mela. ''We would take holy dip at Sangam on Magi Purnima and leave for homes,'' said K K Ghatopkar, who hails from Maharashtra.

Maghi Purnima would mark the second full moon (purnima) of the mela. The kalpvasis had descended at the mela site on the first full moon nearly a month ago.

The Purnima would be the fifth of the six bathing festivals during the Ardh Kumbh -- three of them being Shahi Snans.

Mahashivratri would be the last bathing festival of Ardh Kumbh.

During the period, when Magh Mela is held, a temporary township of tents comes up at Sangam.

Lakhs of tents are erected by the mela administration to enable the devotees live in the area during their stay. These temporary shelters/tents for the duration of mela to lead a sacred life is called kalpvas.

Most of the devouts wear unstiched clothes during the kalpvas.

The clothes could be either white, yellow or saffron, as per their belief.

The timing of the Kumbh, the month of Magh too is astrologically significant. It is the time, when the sun moves into the Tropic Of Capricorn signifying 'Makar Sakranti', a time when Allahabad receives direct rays of the sun.

The traffic restrictions in the mela area would come in force from this evening even as all security mechanism is firmly in place according to SSP Ardh Kumbh Rajiv Sabharwal.

However, a large number of policemen deployed at the mela area have been sent to Gorakhpur following a communal flare-up there.

UNI