Thousands of pilgrims took holy dip today at the River Ganga on the occasion of 'Paush Poornima' in Uttar Pradesh. It is the second big auspicious bathing day of the Kumbh Mela, after Makar Sankranti.
From Sunday night itself, thousands of devotees, including women and children walked several kilometers of the 'sprawling Kumbhnagar' to make their way to the river and take the holy dip. The Sangam area was surrounded with many activities, as devotees started arriving.
However, security forces maintained a close watch on the movement of pilgrims and visitors at the mela venue. Tight security arrangements were made to ensure smooth passage of the main bathing dates. The rituals linked to the 'Paush Poornima' began, based on the astrological charts, on Sunday; the main ritual of bathing and 'daan' began on Monday morning.
Adding to the bath, today even the fabled 'Kalp Vaas' began, when devotees give up world pleasures and connections, for a brief period and live the life of hermits. Many families have pitched tents here and have begun the 'Kalp Vaas' based on their beliefs of renunciation of the world pleasures, leading a simple life for the period.
During this one month, they would be segregated from their families and engage in singing bhajans, chanting hymns, cooking for themselves.
During the 'Kalp Vaas', people following it are expected to sleep on the floor, eat one meal a day and thrice take a dip in the holy Ganga. The third 'shahi snaan' (royal bathing) is scheduled for February 4.
Preparations:
8 kilometre Ghat has been developed at Sangam for bathing. Likewise, 35 bathing areas are developed on the banks of river Ganga. State government has advised the VVIPs not to come at Kumbh Mela on bathing festival as no Protocol will be permissible to any one on day of bathing festival. Entry of commercial vehicles has been prohibited in Prayagraj city.
41 Special Trains and four thousand buses have been pressed into service to ferry the devotees. First time shuttle buses have been pressed into service to ferry devotees from seven entry points of Prayagraj town where makeshift bus stations have been erected at Prayagraj. For the vehicles coming from Lucknow road, Varanasi road, Jaunpur Road, Mirzapur road, Kanpur road, Rewa road and Banda road. Only shuttle buses are allowed inside the Mela upto sector four.
According to Police Chief of the Mela DIG KP, shuttle buses will be in operation so that huge crowds do not create hurdles.
CEO Prayagraj Mela Authority Vijay Kiran Anand said that about 60 Lakh devotees and bathers are expected on second bathing festival, today.
