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Solar eclipse: pilgrims throng Brahm Sarovar
K.G. Dutt

A sadhu takes bath in Brahm Sarovar at Kurukshetra on Friday. — Photo Neeraj Chopra

Kurukshetra, May 30
Thousands of pilgrims have started thronging the banks of the Brahm Sarovar and Sannehit tanks here on the eve of solar eclipse tomorrow. Sadhus from different parts of the country have pitched up their tents at vantage points on the banks of the two sarovars.

The sadhus of Dasnami Akharas have started preparing for a holy dip tomorrow morning in the two sarovars. They have started their prayers to the Sun God.

They are also performing yajnas.

Religious organisations have started free kitchens for the pilgrims. The Ranbasera opened by the mela administration has also started functioning.

Naga Sadhus, who are always the first to take a holy dip as the eclipse starts, are expected to go to the two tanks in a procession.

Some religious organisations have started their religious discourses. North Zone Cultural Centre artistes have been regaling pilgrims at special shows during night for the last two days.

Over 6,000 policemen and equal number of volunteers of the Home Guards and other social organisations have been pressed into service to help the pilgrims to have a holy dip tomorrow. The police has put up metal detectors at the entry points to the two sarovars from all sides. The entire mela area is being watched by security agencies with the help of video cameras which have been fixed at various points.

The Director-General of the Haryana Police, Mr M.S. Malik, visited the mela area today along with senior police and mela officers to review the security arrangements. A large number of policemen in plain clothes have been deployed in the areas around the two sarovars.The women police has been deployed near the women bathing ghats. Tight security arrangements have been made at the VIP ghat on the southern bank of the Brahm Sarovar where large number of VIPs, including the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, are expected to take a holy dip.

The Haryana Public Relations Department is acquainting pilgrims with the religious and cultural significance of Dharmkshetra through an exhibition, video van and printed literature.