M A I N   N E W S

Over 2 million take holy dip in Godavari

Nashik, August 17
Over two million pilgrims and 70,000 sadhus today took holy dip in Ramkund on the banks of Godavari river on the occasion of the “shaahi snan” (royal bath) of Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Sinhastha Kumbh Mela, which returned to the city after a gap of 12 years.

Barring a minor stampede due to the heavy rush of pilgrims from across the country, the ceremony was peaceful in Ramkund, the holy site where Lord Rama is believed to have stayed during his 14-year exile.

More than 7,000 policemen, including those from outside the district, 1,650 homeguards, 15 platoons of SRPF, 6000 volunteers and hundreds of NCC cadets were present to see that the event passed off peacefully.

Director-General of Police O.P. Bali, who was present to review the proceedings, said: “We have adequate force to handle the situation here, though it is a very difficult job. You have to do your best and leave the rest to god.”

To avoid heavy currents, only adequate amount of water had been released to the river from the nearby Gangapur dam, he added.

In the morning, the sadhus and mahants (head priests) belonging to three akhadas of the Vaishnav Sect — Nirvani, Digambar and Nirmohi — marched in a royal procession from Lakshmi Narayan Temple, where their “tapowan” is located.

Some of the garlanded sadhus came on horses, some on decorated elephants, while others proceeded on makeshift thrones atop gypsy vans amid beating drums and music as hundreds of thousands of people watched them.

On their way, the sadhus danced, showed off their prowess in wielding swords, sticks and other weapons, chanting mantras and raising spiritual slogans.

The pompous procession sported golden umbrellas, huge flags, decorated sticks and a wide array of weapons.

The procession was delayed by 45 minutes and members of the first akhada to take bath, Nirvani, took dip at 9.15 a.m.

The delay was caused by some over-enthusiastic devotees who attempted to enter the procession, leading the security forces to call an SRPF platoon to clear the crowd.

Once in Ramkund, the members of the akhadas offered prayers at Ganga Godavari Temple, built in 1818 AD, which opens only for the Kumbh once in 12 years.

The roads leading to the river were overflowing with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from across the country, who walked for their chance of spiritual ecstasy as all entry points were closed for vehicular traffic.

Due to the delay in starting the bath, the pilgrims had to wait longer for sadhus to finish their bath.

The Ramkund royal bath is the second in a series of such events in the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh 2003, the first of which was held in Trimbakeshwar on August 12. Both places will witness the next royal bath on August 27. — PTI