mahakumbh

Maha Kumbh begins at Allahabad; Makar Sakranti, Pongal and Bhogali Bihu being celebrated today

Jan 14 The Maha Kumbh began this morning with lakhs of devotees and religious leaders of various orders converging on the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati at Alahabad for a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.The inaugural day of the two-month-long congregation, often described as the greatest show on earth, was marked by the first Shahi Snan of 13 akharas . The akharas have been allotted fixed time, ranging from 30 minutes to about an hour depending upon the size of their respective procession, for bathing with routes for going to and returning from Sangam so separated as to ward off possibility of members of rival akharas coming in contact with each other. Devotees from across the country had started pouring in since last evening and the influx continues despite cold weather and elaborate security arrangements on account of which bathers are being made to park their vehicles several kilometres away from the holy confluence and reach the Sangamon foot. Vehicular traffic has been banned on most of the roads in the city from yesterday till tomorrow to facilitate movementof people. Around 5 lakh pilgrims today took a holy dip at Gangasagar, the confluence of Ganga with Bay of Bengal, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.Official sources said today's turnout of over 5 lakh was the highest in the past two days.Movement of devotees from Kakdwip to Gangasagar had stopped for about three hours last night after a barge hit a jetty at a ferry ghat damaging it. The damaged jetty had since been restored. In Andhra Pradesh, Makara Sankranthi, the second day of the post harvest festival is being celebrated today with traditional fervour and gaiety. Being an agrarian state, the three-day festival is being celebrated across state . The festival is celebrated with pomp and show in the rural areas. In Nepal, Maghe Sankranti is being celebrated as devotees have been thronging temples and taking a dip in holy rivers and ponds across the country today. The festival is believed to bring an end to the ill-omen month of Poush that forbids all religious ceremonies. Maghe Sankranti is also regarded as the coldest day of the year and marks the start of warmer season. The government has declared public holiday by recognizing Maghe Sankranti as a national festival. The traditional Indian crop harvest festivals of Makar Sankranti and Pongal which mark the beginning of a new solar Calendar year are being celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervor among the expatriate Indian community in Dubai and the West Asia region. People offered prayers for peace and prosperity as they shared greetings with each other and enjoyed the traditional food tracing back their roots to the motherland. The gulf region is almost a second home for millions of expatriate Indians who have contributed a lot to foster strong trade, economic and cultural ties between India and the countries in the gulf region. Pongal the harvest festival is being celebrated with traditional pomp and gaiety all over Tamil Nadu today. People thronged to temples like Srirangam, Samayapuram, Kanchi Kamakshi early today. The harvest festival of Bhogali Bihu is being celebrated in Assam with traditional pomp and gaiety. A host of cultural programmes and traditional sports are being organised to mark the occasion. Irrespective of caste and creed, people are greeting each other on the occasion. Along with traditional sports, various cultural activities will also be organised. People set ablaze Meji early this morning. Assam Governor JB Patnaik and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi have greeted people on this occasion.