PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Uttarkashi/Haridwar
Many thousands of devotees took holy dips in the Bhagirathi in Gangotri and in the Ganga at Haridwar on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra on Monday. While thousands visited Gangotri, the police informed that about 24.52 lakh people had taken a dip in the Ganga in Haridwar till the time of the evening Arti.
The sounds of Vedic chanting, conch shells being blown and ‘Har Har Gange’ began echoing in Gangotri Dham from the morning. Thousands of devotees from across India and abroad arrived here to offer special prayers and bathe in the cold waters of the Bhagirathi on the special occasion. Long queues of devotees were seen near the temple compound and on the ghats. Along with devotees from various States, villagers from remote areas came along with Dev Dolis accompanied by the beats of traditional Dhol-Damau.
Ganga Vichar Manch Uttarkashi coordinator Lokendra Singh Bisht said that Ganga Dussehra is celebrated to mark the occasion when Lord Shiva let a stream of the celestial Ganga to reach the earth from his locks.
Meanwhile, the Uttarkashi district administration had made elaborate arrangements for security and other facilities considering the crowd of devotees in Gangotri. Police and security personnel were posted in the temple compound, the ghats and on major routes while health camps and focus on sanitation and traffic management was also ensured, officials claimed.
Downstream in Haridwar, many thousands of devotees began gathering at Har Ki Paidi and other ghats early in the morning. Devotees continued to take dips in the holy river with religious enthusiasm even as the day progressed and the temperature rose. Special religious rituals, Bhajan-Kirtan and other activities were organised in various temples and Ashrams on the occasion. According to the police, more than 24 lakh devotees had taken a dip in the Ganga at Har Ki Paidi and other ghats and departed for their destinations till the time of the evening Ganga Arti.
