Thursday, 15 April 2021 | PNS | Haridwar
The third Shahi Snan of the Kumbh Mela held on the occasion of Mesh Sankranti here on Wednesday saw more than 13.51 lakh people taking holy dips in the Ganga till the evening. Despite efforts by the authorities, it was difficult to ensure social distancing and wearing of masks by all the devotees during the entire occasion.
The Shahi Snan began early in the morning with the Sadhus of the Panchayati Akhada Sri Niranjani, Niranjani Akhada and Anand Akhada reaching Har Ki Paidi. The Sadhus first worshipped their tutelary deities and then took holy dips in the Ganga. These Akhadas were followed by Sadhus of the Sri Panchdashnam Juna Bhairav Akhada, Sri Agni Akhada and the Ahwahan Akhada. Members of the Kinnar Akhada also accompanied the Sadhus of these Akhadas. Third in the sequence were Sadhus of the Sri Panchayat Akhada Mahanirvan Kankhal and Sri Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhada who chanted ‘Har Har Mahadev’ while taking holy dips in the Ganga.
The three Bairagi Akhadas- Akhil Bharatiya Sri Panch Nirvani Ani Akhada, Akhil Bharatiya Sri Panch Digamber Ani Akhada and Akhil Bharatiya Sri Panch Nirmohi Akhada then partook of the Shahi Snan and were followed by the Sri Panchayati Bada Akhada Udaseen Nirvan Akhada and Sri Panchayati Naya Udaseen Akhada Nirvan. Sadhus of the Sri Panchayati Nirmal Akhada were the last to participate in the Shahi Snan. The state government showered flower petals from a helicopter on the Akhada members as they walked towards Har Ki Paidi for the Shahi Snan. After the Shahi Snan of the Akhadas got over early in the evening, the top officials of the Kumbh Mela and police along with other staff members also took holy dips in the Ganga. +
According to information provided by the police, till 6 PM, a total of 13,51,631 people had attended the Shahi Snan on Wednesday at Ghats from Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh to Har Ki Paidi in Haridwar. Till 2 PM, 8,540 Covid tests had been conducted on people entering Haridwar and of these 39 test results came out positive. Similarly, 1,750 people and 1,111 vehicles were turned back till 2 PM in absence of Covid test reports. The Kumbh Mela officer Deepak Rawat informed that about 50,000 Covid tests were being conducted daily during the Kumbh Mela. The inspector general of police (Kumbh) Sanjay Gunjyal informed that Covid test certificates were checked properly at the borders of the Kumbh Mela area. A total of 56,000 devotees were sent back from the border due to absence of Covid negative certificate.
Meanwhile, chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat expressed gratitude at the successful conclusion of the third Shahi Snan. He averred that the government had facilitated all the three Shahi Snans in the Kumbh Mela properly while also focusing on observance of the Central government’s Covid guidelines. He further said that all necessary arrangements had been made to prevent any inconvenience to the Sadhus and general devotees with focus also being laid on ensuring protection from Covid. All the devotees who had attended the Kumbh Mela were appreciative of the government’s arrangements, he added.
