Over 50 Lakh Take Holy Dip at Sangam

Lucknow, Feb 8 (IANS) Over 50 lakh people took the holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, at Sangam in Allahabad on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on Monday.

It is the third most prominent bath of the ongoing Magh Mela in Allahabad in which millions are observing 'kalpvaas'.

Officials said that it was after a gap of 300 years that Mauni Amavasya was falling on a Monday, adding to the religious sanctity of the day.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the holy dips of Shankaracharya's and other prominent seers from various 'akhadas' and security has been tightened in the Magh Mela area, an official told IANS.

Among the prominent seers who are scheduled to take the holy dip on Monday are Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand of Sharda and Jyotish Peeth, Shankaracharya of Puri Swami Nischalanand Saraswati, Narendranath Saraswati and others.

The number of devotees who will take the dip in the Sangam is expected to touch 1.25 crores by day end, a district official said, adding that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure that the exit of the devotees from the Mela campus was peaceful, in an orderly fashion and safe.