ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 20, 2015 (Times of India): “Har, Har Gange” reverberated in the air throughout the day as a large number of devotees headed towards River Ganga on Mauni Amavasya at Sangam, Jhunsi and Arail ghats. Mela officials claimed that around 9 million pilgrims and devotees had a holy dip at Sangam, Jhunsi and Arail ghats by late afternoon.
They said that the final figure was expected to cross the 10 million mark by the time the bathing time ends at 10pm as people from neighboring states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were still arriving.
A dip in Ganga on Mauni Amavasya is considered pious and devotees did not leave any stone unturned to earn merit and performed puja and yajna worship on the occasion. Sunil Mishra, who travelled all the way from Lucknow, said, “A holy dip will help me wash my sins and also earn Ma Ganga’s blessings.”
Several slide shows may be viewed at :
http://indianexpress.com/photos/picture-gallery-others/magh-mela-devotees-take-holy-dip-at-sangam-in-allahabad/
http://indianexpress.com/photos/picture-gallery-others/thousands-gather-for-the-annual-magh-mela-in-allahabad/9/
http://indianexpress.com/photos/picture-gallery-others/magh-mela-pilgrims-throng-sangam-in-allahabad-to-take-a-holy-dip/