Mahant Bharti's unique penance draws attention in Haridwar

Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Feb 7 (ANI): Mahant Amar Bharti, a religious leader in Haridwar here has caught everybody's attention for his unique penance at the Maha Kumbha Mela.

For the past several decades, Bharti has kept his right hand raised telling that it is a kind of penance, which was done in the past by different sages.

He says that he is just carrying forward the tradition.

"This is known as Oordhaman Tapasya (a type of penance where you devote a part of your body to the Almighty). It is something, which the saints have been doing for long; I am just continuing the tradition. It is not essential that it has a timing," said Bharti.

Bharti, who raised his hand as a part of the penance long ago, now is unable to lower it any more as the bone of his hand has deformed.

Besides the huge crowd that have gathered, even the other holy men present at the fair have equal words of praise for Bharti.

Mahant Vidyanand Saraswati said, "Since many years he is doing this, as a part of his penance, he has devoted his hand to the lord forever, it has been almost 50 years." Now, I guess only when his soul leaves his body, only then this penance would get effected," added Saraswati.

Devotees and holy men from all across the country pay their visits to the Maha Kumbha Mela for the mass gathering. (ANI)