66 Cr Take Dip of Faith in Sangam Water in 45 Days

AS the sun rays fell upon the waters of Sangam on the cool Shivaratri morning on Wednesday, the ghats already throbbing with activity, came alive again to the sound of conch shells, bells, Vedic chants and bhajans with a sea of humanity rushing to take a dip, the last of the six 'maha snans' marking the conclusion of the 45-day-long Mahakumbh—the biggest religious congregation on earth.

- NAMITA BAJPAI @ Lucknow

Mahakumbh, the mega religious gathering that takes place once in 12 years, came to a close with over 66 crore devout Sanatanis taking the dip of faith and salvation at Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the month-and-a-half-long event. Songs and prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva echoed all around with around two crore devotees taking the holy dip on Mahashivratri snan, bringing down the curtains on 45 days of austerity and massive display of religiosity by 13 monastic orders, dollops of glamour and the event which witnessed the making of three Guinness World Records.