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.
In West Bengal, lakhs of people have gathered at Ganga Sagar, a confluence of Bhagirathi and Bay of Bengal to take a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Our Kolkata corespondent reports that pilgrims have come from all over the country and also from abroad.
The harvest festival of Pongal is being celebrated with traditional gaiety and grandeur all over Tamil Nadu today. The entire state, especially the rural areas, wore a festive look. Pongal signals the end of winter and the onset of spring. The festival which begins on the first day of Thai is celebrated for three more days.
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.
