Bhubaneswar: More than five lakh devotees Sunday took a holy dip in Odisha's temple town Konark and offered prayers to the sun god on the occasion of Magha Saptami.
The bathing began as early as 3 am. Police officer SN Saha told a news agency that there were as many as five lakh people, including women and children.
According to legend, Shamba, son of Hindu god Krishna, was cured of leprosy after a holy dip in Chandrabhaga river on the seventh day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Magha.
Although the river no longer exists, devotees bathe in a large pond at the site, near the Bay of Bengal, and worship the sun god. Konark is about 65 km from Bhubaneswar.
IANS
First Published: Sunday, February 17, 2013, 12:58