Ahead of Magh Purnima, tight security at Maha Kumbh

HARIDWAR - With an estimated 500,000 pilgrims expected to take a dip in the Ganga on the occasion of Magh Purnima Saturday, a tight security cover has been thrown around the Maha Kumbh Mela area here, officials said Friday.

The Maha Kumbh Saturday would also witness its first “Peshwai” - a royal procession of saints.

“Saints of different Akhadas will participate in the colourful Peshwai. They will carry out the procession amidst beating of drums. For the procession, a number of saints have already booked music bands and would deploy decorated chariots,” an official of the Mela organising committee told IANS.

“Around 2 lakh Nagababas are likely to participate in the royal procession,” he added.

Devout Hindus believe that on Magh Purnima, bathing in the Ganga washes away people’s sins. Magh Purnima is the full moon in the Hindu month of Magha.

“About 9,000 security personnel have been deployed around the Mela area spread across 130 sq km spanning Haridwar, Dehradun, Pauri and Tehri Garhwal districts,” Deputy Inspector General of Police (Mela) Alok Sharma told IANS.

“Besides the regular police force, security personnel include commandos that have been called from the centre, battalions of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF), river police, bomb disposal squads (BDS) and intelligence sleuths,” he added.

According to officials, all rehearsals have been completed for the bath scheduled Saturday.

As a part of the security measures, the authorities will not allow anyone to carry the ago-old diyas (lamps) made from tree leaves that are used in a traditional ritual - Deep Daan (offering of light) to the holy Ganga river.

“We have prohibited the carrying of the traditional lamps made of tree leaves and decorated with flowers as they could be used for hiding things,” said Sharma.

“Instead of the traditional lamps, we would however allow the devotees to carry earthen lamps for the Deep Dan ritual,” he added. Likewise, carrying of whole coconuts and the likes have also been prohibited in the Mela area as they also can be misused to carry explosives and other such illegal items,” he added.

“Security is paramount for us. Besides Har-ki-Pauri, one of the most visited and revered ghats of Ganga for bathing, we have deployed security personnel in several adjoining regions, including like Chandipul, Shantikunj, VIP Ghat,” Anand Vardhan, officer in charge of the Mela, told IANS.

“While CCTV cameras have been installed at a number of places, security officials have also been provided binoculars to keep a close eye on all activities,” he added.

The Maha Kumbh comes around once every 12 years.

The religious gathering that began Jan 14 will end April 28 after the Baisakhi Shahi Snan - one of the most important bathing dates on April 14.

According to Hindu mythology, Haridwar is one of the four places where a drop of the nectar of immortality or “amrit” fell from the pitcher or “kumbh” when Garuda, the divine bird of Lord Vishnu, was spiriting it away from the demons after a pitched battle.

Since then, Haridwar, along with Allahabad, Nashik and Ujjain - the other three places - have been celebrating the Kumbh Mela.