Lakhs of devotees took holy dip in Sangam on Makar Sankranti

PRAYAJRAJ

Lakhs of devotees took a holy dip here at the Sangam the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati rivers on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti and marking the onset of the Magh  Mela,on Monday.

Loud religious chanting as well as melodious singing of ‘bhajans’ reverberated through the by-lanes of the city for most of the night. The moment arrived just before dawn when, with prayers in their breath, the visitors took the holy dip in the water as cold as ice.

The Magh Mela administration claimed that 18 lakh devotees had taken a dip till 2 pm. The 54-day Magh Mela began with the first dip of the sacred thread.

Amazing enthusiasm was seen among the devotees to take a holy dip in Sangam Groups of saints came out singing bhajans and kirtans, while devotees were reaching the Sangam chanting Jai Shri Ram and Maa Ganga.

Devotees from other states started taking a dip in the Sangam from Sunday morning itself for Makar Sankranti. In the morning, waves of devotion started flowing on the path of faith. People did not wait for Lord Surya’s Uttarayan.

In the shivering morning amidst the fog, nothing was visible in the Sangam area. Despite this, there was a steady stream of devotees carrying bundles on their heads to take the Sangam bath through Kali Marg or Triveni Marg

Devotees arriving from all over, from neighboring states as well as villages and towns of Purvanchal, started taking a dip in the holy stream of Triveni. There was maximum crowd at Sangam Nose. Some were arriving lying down and some were arriving while dancing and kirtan with drums.