Devotees take holy dip on ''Maghi Mela''

Muktsar (Punjab), Dec 14 (PTI) Braving winter chill, alarge number of devotees today took a holy dip in the''sarovars'' of the various Gurdwaras in and around the town onthe occasion of Maghi Mela.

Maghi is observed in the memory of the 40 ''Muktas''(the redeemed ones) who sacrificed their lives while fightingthe Mughals in the last battle of the 10th Sikh Guru GobindSingh in 1705. According to the legend, the Guru personallycremated the martyrs on the day following the festival ofLohri.

Despite the biting cold, devotees came in droves fromPunjab and neighbouring areas, including Haryana andRajasthan, to pay obeisance at Gurdwaras here.

People also gathered in large numbers at Takhtupura innearby Moga and at other shrines located in Faridkot, Nanaksarand Daroli Bhai.

Political parties in the state, including the rulingSAD-BJP alliance and the opposition Congress organisedconferences and rallies which wre attended by Chief MinisterPrakash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh,sacked Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and LocalBodies and Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia.