M A I N   N E W S

Crores take holy dip on Amavasya
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KUMBHNAGAR, Jan 24 — Over 3 crore pilgrims took a holy dip at the Sangam today on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, the most auspicious bath of the Mahakumbh.

The pilgrims started taking the dip at the start of Mauni Amavasya. Only for an hour after midnight the administration stopped the snan.

A sea of humanity surged towards the Sangam to be in time for the holy dip. In view of the unprecedented rush, the administration had to impose traffic restrictions. There was a traffic jam on the Yamuna bridge which could be cleared after several hours.

Five boats were reported to have capsized. Although the administration was tightlipped about it, a number of boatmen interviewed by this correspondent confirmed that three boats capsized at the Sangam and two others at Quila Ghat. The boat which overturned at Quila Ghat was a big one carrying passengers. Sources said they were saved by divers and policemen. Casualties, if any, could not be confirmed.

Today was the second Shahi Snan of the 13 akharas of sadhus. The first to take Shahi Snan at the Sangam was the Mahanirvani Akhara. Its sadhus went in a procession from their camp to Sangam Ghat to the accompaniment of nagaras. Mahamandleshwars were sitting in silver planquins. The sadhus were carrying the flags of their respective sects.

Carrying their traditional weapons, they were raising slogans like “Har-Har Mahadev” and “Jai Maa Ganga”. many of them demonstrated their skills during the procession.

At the Sangam ghats, the sadhus first dipped their weapons. Later, they performed “aarti” of the Ganga, the Saraswati and the Yamuna. After that, they made offerings at the Sangam.

After Shahi Snan, sadhus of each akhara left the ghat to enable those of other akharas to take the holy dip. Sadhus of the Sanyasi and the Bairagi akharas were the first to take the dip.

Thirteen akharas completed the snan by the evening.

The administration which had fixed routes for the arrival and departure of each akhara heaved a sigh of relief after the completion of the Shahi Snan.

To cope with the rush, the administration started one-way traffic nearly 6 p.m. ahead of the Sangam. No vehicle was allowed to enter the mela area. Only police vehicles carrying valid passes were permitted to enter the mela area.

Because of the heavy rush at various ghats, the police did not allow any boat to carry pilgrims from Quila Ghat and other ghats. Boats were allowed to carry pilgrims only from Imli Ghat and another ghat across the river. As a result, an insignificant number of pilgrims could reach the Sangam to have snan. Some others were hoping of taking a holy dip at the ghats of either the Yamuna or the Ganga. 

Dalai Lama to visit Kumbh today

KUMBH NAGAR, Jan 24 (UNI) — Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will be paying a visit to the Kumbh Mela tomorrow and participate in an ‘aarti’ (prayer) at the Sangam, officials said today.

Confirming the visit, District Magistrate (Kumbh) Jeevesh Nandan said the Dalai Lama would visit the VHP camp in the Kumbh Mela area.

However, VHP joint secretary Champat Rai has denied that the Lama would be visiting the VHP camp and said the spiritual leader would visit the camp of the Modi Foundation Trust where VHP leader Ashok Singhal would also be present.

Heavy security arrangements have been made for the month-long festival here.

After Sonia, it is Bhajan
Tribune News Service

KUMBHNAGAR (Allahabad), Jan 24 — The mania of a holy dip at Sangam after the visit of Mrs Sonia Gandhi seems to have gripped the Congressmen from UP and other states.

Prominent among the VIPs who had a holy dip on the Mauni Amavasya day was Mr Bhajan Lal, former Haryana Chief Minister, accompanied by his wife. Mr Bhajan Lal told this reporter at the Saraswati Ghat that he had come here because of his religious beliefs. Many in the UP police, however, did not recognise him. The mela administration did not provide him any security at the local level.