Mahakumbh Begins, Nearly Five Lakhs Take Holy Dip in Ganga at Haridwar
The biggest human confluence – Mahakumbh mela – has commenced in Haridwar with nearly four lakh pilgrims taking dip in the city water of Gaga River, said reports.
Pilgrims, chiefly from Uttarakhand, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Nepal, arrived in the temple town and took holy dip amid the chanting of ‘Har-Har Mahadev’, reported Hindustan Times.
“The numbers of pilgrims is expected to reach 10 lakh by Friday morning” Anand Vardhan, mela in-charge of Kumbh, was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
He claimed that nearly 4-5 lakh pilgrims had already took dip in the Ganga by 9 am, said report.
With cloudy and cold weather conditions on Wednesday, administration was doubtful about the number of pilgrims, expecting that it would dampen the mood. However, as the town witnessed a sunny morning, these apprehensions evaporated.
“The nice weather has brought cheers on the face of pilgrims and administration” Vardhan was quoted as saying.
The first snan (bath) of Kumbh falls today on Makar Sankranti and the second important snan (bath) will be held tomorrow on Mauni Amavasya. The Mela that will end on April 28 is expected to attract 5-6 crores (50-60 millions) pilgrims in the next four months.
One of the group of pilgrims from Nepal to whom HT interacted with said they visit Haridwar on every Kumbh. “At least one member from every house comes to Kumbh” asserted Inder Badadur Deupa from Datal Dhura village in Mahakali Anchal some 500 kilometers from Haridwar.
