Haridwar: Nearly 25 lakh pilgrims, including
several sadhus, today took a holy dip in the river Ganga on
the occasion of third royal bath of the ongoing Mahakumbh
here today.
25 lakh Sadhus and other pilgrims have taken a dip in the
river Ganga, said Kumbh Mela Officer Anand Vardhan.
Twenty-eight representative Sadhus and seers, belonging
to seven sanyasi (Shaiv) `akharas` (Hindu orders) of Joona,
Niranjani, Atal, Aahwan, Anand, Mahanirvani and Agni were the
first, who took bath at Brahmkund area of Har-Ki-Pauri, the
main bathing ghat, on the occasion of Chaitra Purnima, which
has been declared as a royal bath for the first time.
Sanyasi akharas were followed by the sadhus belonging to
Bairagi (Vaishnav) Akharas of Nirmohi Ani, Digambar Ani,
Nirwani Ani, Bada Udasin, Naya Udasin and Nirmal, who reached
at Har-Ki-Pauri in the form of procession.
Thousands of Sadhus including Khalsa, Dakor and
Ramanandacharyas attended the impressive procession, which was
led by Mahant Gyan Das, president of Akil Bhartiya Akhara
Parishad.
Lakhs of devotees were seen standing on both sides of the
road with folded hands braving scorching heat to witness the
procession.
Other bathing ghats of Haridwar and Rishikesh were also
flooded with pilgrims since early morning.
Elaborate security arrangements were made for the third
royal bath.
The bath passed off peacefully with no untoward incident
reported from anywhere, Vardhan said.
This was the third royal bath of the ongoing Mahakumbh
mela, that began on Jan 14 with Makar Sankranti.
Eleven major baths, including four royal baths were
scheduled during the Mahakumbh. The fourth and the last royal
bath would be held on April 14.
PTI
