Tuesday, 13 April 2021 | PNS | Haridwar
More than 31 lakh devotees attend Somvati Amavasya Snan in Kumbh Mela
More than 31 lakh devotees attended the second Shahi Snan of the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya on Monday. While devotees starting visiting the Ganga ghats from 12 AM, the general devotees were vacated from the main Har Ki Paidi Ghat early in the morning for cleaning and the Shahi Snan of Akhadas. Till 6 PM in the evening, more than 31 lakh devotees had taken the holy dip in the Ganga at various Ghats from Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh to Har Ki Paidi in Haridwar with the process continuing later into the evening.
As per the sequence set by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) Sadhus of the Niranjani Akhada reached Har Ki Paidi first for the holy dip. They were also accompanied by members of the Anand Akhada. The last king of Nepal, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah also took a holy dip along with Sadhus of the Niranjani Akhada.This was followed by the the Juna Akhada along with Sadhus of the Agni and Ahwahan Akhadas who were also accompanied by members of the Kinnar Akhada. As the day progressed, the Sadhus of the Mahanirvani, Atal, Nirmohi, Nirvani, Digamber, Shri Panchayati Bada Udasin, Sri Panchayati Naya Udasin and Nirmal Akhadas took holy dip in the Ganga at the Brahmakund in Har Ki Paidi. The procession of the Akhadas was directed via the highway to Har Ki Paidi amidst tight security. Being Covid positive, the ABAP head Narendra Giri was unable to attend the Shahi Snan. Due to implementation of the Covid standard operating procedures (SOPs), the number of devotees was less compared to past Kumbhs.
Meanwhile, the authorities had directed the vehicles to various parkings from where 262 shuttle buses were operated. At the ghats, the police acted on the principle of ‘Teen Dubki- Ek Snan’ (three dips- one bath) in order to manage the crowds of devotees. At the same time, challans were issued to about 83 persons for not following the Covid guidelines in the Mela area. Till 3 PM the authorities had conducted 9,678 Covid tests on arriving devotees at the Haridwar border with 26 of these coming out positive. At the same time, 2,758 persons and 357 vehicles were turned back in absence of Covid test reports.
