Over 9 lakh devotees take dip in Ganga on Mahashivratri
Prayagaraj (UP): Around 9.70 lakh people took a dip in the Ganga and the holy Sangam here till 6 pm on the occasion of Mahashivratri, also the last bathing day of the ongoing Magh Mela in Prayagraj.
A Magh Mela administration official said bathers started pouring into the Sangam area from morning, and by 6 pm, about 9.70 lakh people had taken the holy bath in the Ganga and Sangam — the trijunction of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
A large number of people offered garlands, flowers, milk etc. and performed ‘Abhishekam’ on the ‘Shivlings’ in various temples of the city.
About six lakh people had taken bath in the Ganga and in Sangam till around 10 am.
According to the official, for the convenience of devotees, the length of the ghats were increased from 6,800 feet to 8,000 feet and a total of 12 ghats were built.
An adequate number of change facilities were also set up at all the ghats, he said.
Teerth Purohit (priest) Rajendra Mishra said it is believed Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati got married on the day of Mahashivratri.
On this day, Bholenath (Lord Shiv) is worshipped and anointed with various holy items such as ‘belpatra’, ‘dhatura’, ‘abeer gulal’, and ‘ber’ among others.
