Devotees throng sangam with commencement of Magh Mela

Allahabad, Braving intense cold and other odds, thousands of devotees today took holy dip in the Sangam, the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on the occasion of Makar Sakranti which also marks the commencement of month long Magh Mela in Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh.

The devotees started pouring in since late last night to take a holy bath and the bathing continued late in the day. They paid obeisance at various temples in Mela area amid chanting of mantras and hymns.

Elderly man offering prayer after taking holy dip in Magh Mela in Allahabad

This religious fair starts when Sun enters the Makar rashi but it this year the Makar Sakranti will be celebrated on January 15, i.e. tomorrow. Though the first main bath will be held tomorrow but devotees with great fervor and enthusiasm have started to reach and take the holy dip.

The district administration has made massive arrangements in the view of large score of devotees while adequate police forces have also been deployed in and around the temporary tentage city erected in over 1000 acres of area on the banks of Sangam, District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar said. As per Hindu beliefs, by doing one month ‘Kalpwas’ at the Sangam, one can wash off one’s sins.

Women offering prayers after taking holy dip in Magh Mela in Allahabad

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).

About 25 lakh devotees are likely to take holy dip at sangam on Makar Sankranti day while the figure may touch 10 million mark on Mauni Amavasya day, Sanjay Kumar, the District Magistrate of Allahabad said.