Pryagraj : The world’s largest religious and cultural human congregation – the Kumbh Mela 2019 began with the holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswsti here in Uttar Pradesh early this morning.
Hindus believe bathing here will cleanse their sins and bring salvation. The first bathing was taken by saints and seers of different Akharas on the occasion. The saints were seen with smeared ash on their bodies as they came out of the water and chanted “Har Har Gange”, or “Mother Ganges”.
Whole the area is reverberated with the sound of conch shells, bells, drums and chanting of Mantras, Bhajan and Kirtan. People are donating khichdi bhog and cloths on Makar Sankranti.
Around one crore 25 lakh devotees are expected on this Royal bathing Makar Sankranti, Kumbh Mela administration sources said.More than a million foreign pilgrims will also take part in the festival, sources added.
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for the safe bathing. Besides, three Jal police stations, 9 NDRF water emergency teams have been pressed in service. Forty police stations, 58 police out posts including three women police station are erected where more than 20 thousand security personnel are deployed.
Kumbh Mela festival will conclude on March 4 this year.
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Ms Kalinga