Starting from midnight, some 3.5 million devotees took their holy dip at
the KSHIpRaa river on the banks of mHaakaalesh`vr
temple here today on the occasion of the Amavaysa (30th day of a
lunar veDik month) in the ongoing 21st Simhastha Mahakumbh mela.
The crowds have arrived here in trains and buses, landing at the satellite
towns some four-five kilometers away from the venue, and then walking in human
streams to join the large sea of humanity to take the dip on the auspicious
occasion of Somvati Amavasi (the Amavasi of Monday).
The bath known as pARv-s`nan is taken in the belief that it would rid them
of sins and the great cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
"There was no untoward incident and the people have been extremely cooperative
with the arrangements," N. K. Tripathi, Sinhasth Security Chief and Additional
DGP, told PTI. "The bath is incident-free. It has worked as we planned," said
District Magistrate and Collector Dr Rajesh Rajora.
The bath, known as pARv s`naan, happened in 47 ghats including the Ram
Ghat, the main bathing site, he said, adding the Mahapart Somvathi Amavasya is
coming to this place after 47 years. Some 15,000 security personnel and 5,000
volunteers have been pressed into service apart from 20,000 people for various
arrangements, said Thripathi. Over 200,000 sadhus and saints are camping here
for the mega event.
