Allahabad: Lakhs of devotees from across the state on Monday thronged triveni Sangam, the confluence of pious rivers Ganga Yamuna and invisible Saraswati, on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amawasya in Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh
This year, both Somwati and Mauni Amavasya have fallen on the same day, a rare coincidence according to Hindu mythology. A great excitement was seen among devotess to take holy dip at Sangam in the ongoing one-month long annual feature Magh mela.
Devotees pouring in to take holy dip on Mauni Amavsya
Salient features of Magh Mela:
- Held every year at the river banks of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati in Allahabad.
- Commences when Sun enters Makar rashi i.e Makar Sakranti day.
- Lakhs of Kalpwasis stay here for a month.
- Continues for more than a month.
- The Mauni Amavasya is one of six major bathing festival during the Magh Mela
- Pilgrims started to pour in since last night and bathing commenced in the wee hours.
- Prayag Maha Kumbh also takes place here.
- A total of six main bathing festivals fall during the Magh Mela which comprised of January 14 and 15 (Makar Sankranti) January 23 (Paush Purnima), February 8 (Mauni Amavasya),February 12 (Basant Panchami),February 22 (Maghi Poornima) and March 7 (Maha Shivratri).