MahaKumbh : A Holy dip for divine liberation
The practice of Liberation of soul is a higher goal enunciate by the sages in their wisdom of all wisdom which is to take one out from the bonds of rebirth again and again. A Taste of Nectar a drink of God which makes one free from death. Holy dip in Ganges MahaKumbh is a series of such liberation of oneself. A congregation of its unique religious fervour is Maha Kumbh which begins on auspicious Monday morning with nearly 8 millions of devotees as well as ascetics and religious leaders of various orders converging on the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati in Allahabad 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” wherein Naga Sadhus – a martial order of ascetics who move about either naked or scantily clad with matted hair and ash smeared bodies marched to Sangam in processions with their leaders perched atop ornately decorated elephants, horses and chariots and musical bands in attendance in a unique blend of austerity and opulence.
The first to move out were Mahanirvani and Atal Akharas, followed by Niranjani and Anand and then Joona, Awahan and Agni.
They are to be followed by Nirvani Ani, Digambar Ani and Nirmohi and Naya Udasin, Bara Udasin and Nirmal akharas in the same order fixed during the British period following a violent clash among ascetics of different akharas at a kumbh congregation.
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 on Sunday 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 Sangam on foot.
Vehicular traffic has been banned on most of the roads in the city from Sunday till Tuesday to facilitate movement of people.
The “Shahi Snan”, which is a star attraction of the event, began at around 6 AM as curious, awestruck onlookers gathered on both sides of the over-a-kilometre-long road of metallic chequered plates on which the processions of “akharas” proceeded towards the Sangam.
The crowds were separated from the procession with the help of barriers. Security personnel kept a steady, though anxious, watch on the movement of the “Naga sadhus” along the route, from watch towers and by monitoring CCTVs as their processions have sparked off violent clashes in the past.
The Mela, held every 12 years, will go on for next two months and will conclude on Maha Shivaratri on 10th March.
The administration is expecting a nearly 10 per cent rise in pilgrims attending the mass Hindu pilgrimage this year compared to the previous Maha Kumbh held in Allahabad in 2001.
Exceptionally large crowds are also expected on Mauni Amavasya (February 10, 3 crore) and Basant Panchmi (February 15, 1.9 crore).
Besides, spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev and Asaram Bapu, also have planned their visits.
The huge turnout of people, visits of high-profile gurus in addition to the presence of naga sanyasis have increased the pressure on police and administration for smooth functioning of the Kumbh Mela.
A lurking fear of terrorist strike has further heightened the challenges in recent years.
“More than 7,000 personnel of central paramilitary forces, including companies of the Rapid Action Force and the National Disaster Response Force, have been pressed into service,” IGP (Allahabad) Alok Sharma, designated as the nodal officer for security arrangements during the Maha Kumbh, had said.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated across the country with much pomp and fanfare.
The occasion which marks the transition of the sun into the Makar rashi or the zodiac sign Capricorn, also brings an end to winter solstice.
The harvest festival of Pongal will be celebrated in Tamil Nadu on Monday. People, both young and old, boil milk with freshly harvested rice, sweets and lentils, ginger, turmeric and spices by the dawn of the day, on the porches of their houses.
The porches are colourfully decorated with intricate ‘kolam’, or rangoli. The festival is essentially to pay their respects to sun for its help in securing a good harvest. Preparations for this festival are in full swing across the state.
President Pranab Mukherjee greeted fellow countrymen on the occasion of festivals – Lohri, Bihu and Makar Sankranti.
The President also greeted people for Pongal. In his message, the President said that festivals which celebrate fresh harvest, hard work of farmers and bounty of nature bring the promise of further growth and progress for our nation.
The Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has greeted the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti and Pongal.
In his message he has said that these festivals, which are celebrated all over the country under different names with enthusiasm, devotion and gaiety, reflect the fundamental unity of our country and commemorate ‘Uttarayan’ or the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun, besides the harvest season.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also greeted the nation on the occasion of Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Pongal
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