Lakhs take holy dip at Sangam on Maha Shivratri

Allahabad, Feb 16 (UNI) Lakhs of people from the city and neighbouring districts today took a holy dip at Sangam -- the revered confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers -- and other bathing ghats here on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.

Maha Shivratri also marks the last bathing day of the month-long Ardh Kumbh Mela taking place on the sandy bed of Ganga. Now, the residents of Allahabad will witness such huge congregation of devotees only in 2013, when the Maha Kumbh Mela takes place.

Over five crore devotees from different parts of the country and abroad have attended the mela and took a dip in river Ganga.

Various 'akharas', saints and 'kalpvasis' had already left the mela after the bathing festival of Maghi Purnima on February 2.

Only the camp offices/exhibitions of some government departments and shop-keepers are present in the mela.

After bathing, the devotees visited temples of Lord Shiv a and performed 'puja' and other rituals. Huge rush of devotees was seen at Mankameshswar and Pandila Mahadev temples.

Temples have been tastefully decorated with lighting. 'Shiva baraats' were also taken out from different places and 'Rudrabhishekh' was performed.

UNI