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Lakhs take holy dip
Lakhs OF devotees took a holy dip in the Sangam on the occasion of Basant Panchami, the third important bathing festival of the month-long Magh Mela, here on Friday.
Lakhs OF devotees took a holy dip in the Sangam on the occasion of Basant Panchami, the third important bathing festival of the month-long Magh Mela, here on Friday.
Though it was just after midnight when believers began with the ritual of washing away their sins, however since 3 am people in groups were seen heading towards the Sangam and various other ghats along the course of the river spanning several kilometres from Phaphamau to Sangam.
While groups of women were heard singing songs in praise of 'Ma Ganga' menfolk were busy helping the older people to trudge through the rough terrain in a bid to reach the final destination--the river bank. Those who had no strength to walk or gave up in the middle were physically lifted to take them to Sangam by their family members and the relatives. For many among the older generation of bathers a dip in the holy river was a moment full of emotions.
Many of them asked the holy river to forgive them and also pardon them for any sin they had committed in their life time. Eighty-year-old Somvati from Mungra Badshahpur in Jaunpur had to be retrieved from the river by her eldest son as she was not ready to leave the ghat even after the family had finished with the rituals and had to rush back to catch a bus.
It was around 11 am when one could feel that the crowds had begun to swell. Within half an hour there were just human heads alone seen all over the sprawling Sangam area.
While a good number of people had preferred to come a day in advance to avoid the rush on the roads many others from the adjoining districts chose to travel to the city in the early hours. They came in trucks, tractor-trolleys, buses, Jeeps, tempos, motorcycles and even cycles. After parking them at various stands on the periphery of the parade ground they walked to the various ghats.
Those who had managed to find a place under the various pandals preferred to spend the night and go for the dip in the early hours.
Basant Panchami being an auspicious day villagers were seen carrying 'dhwaj' to be offered to Lord Hanuman.
To ward off evil, disease and natural calamities throughout the year a religious ceremony in the village is performed before the 'dhwaj' is lifted to be placed at Bade Hanumanji. They are led by a band and believers prefer to dance all along upto the river where the symbol is given a bath and then offered to Lord Hanuman in the belief that the ritual would bring happiness to the village. All the residents pool money for this ritual. On the other hand, moderate heat in the day also impelled many among the city dwellers to head for Sangam which remained crowded through out the day.
