The highlight of the Ardh Kumbh Mela snan is Dev snan which would be done on Friday. Nearly 1200 dev dolis (idols of the deities in palanquins) along with their insignia reached on Thursday evening from Rishikesh. This snan was held in the Kumbh mela 2010 as well, but for the first time, the people of Haridwar and the pilgrims would witness the Dev dolis in Ardh Kumbh mela.
The last snan of Ardh Kumbh mela would be accomplished on Friday, the Chaitra Poornima (full moon night as per lunar calendar) at Har Ki Pauri, bringing down the curtains on the Ardh Kumbh mela. At 5 am in the morning, the palanquins of the devi devtas would march from Bairagi camp and by 10 after the holy dip, they will start back to their places of origin.
Speaking to The Pioneer, former State minister and President Dev Bhoomi lok Virasat Shobha Yatra Mohan Singh Rawat 'Gaonwasi' said, “Nearly 1200 idols of deities, including over 300 dev dolis from Garhwal and Kumaon, will be participating in the Ganga snan. This time dev dolis from Mauritius, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Delhi are also participating.”
Preparations began a day before to welcome the dev dolis in the holy city. The processions started from Rishikesh in the afternoon where all dev dolis had gathered and after ganga worshipping ritual at Triveni ghat, they reached Bairagi camp around 7 pm on Thursday.
On the way the procession traversed through Bharat temple, old bus stand road, Chandrabhaga bridge, lala lajpat rai marg, Doon trijunction, GGIC trijunction, Hiralal marg to Bharat Mandir inter college amidst the sound of cymbals, dhols and and nagaras (musical instruments).
Notably as a prelude to the coming of the dev dolis from across the State to the Ardh Kumbh mela, dharma dhwaja (flag) of lord Badrinath was installed at Bairagi camp on Chaitra Sankranti to invoke the gods and goddesses of the region. The entire fabric of folk traditions, rituals is woven around these deities.