lakhs of pilgrims took holy dip at Har Ki Pauri on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra with devotees thronging the Ganga ghats since early morning. With two back-to-back snans of Ganga Dussehra and Nirjala Ekadeshi, and Ganga Dussehra falling on Sunday, pilgrims from different States of the country thronged the holy city.
The security was upped by the district administration in Haridwar. The main bathing ghat Har Ki Pauri and other bathing ghats along the stretch of Ganga were dotted with pilgrims all through the day. Monday will see again an important bathing date of Nirjala Ekadashi (11th day of lunar month).
Traffic police had a tough time managing with the continuous stream of vehicles on the national highway. The mela sector was divided into 40 sectors and 12 zones and security personnel were deputed at the sensitive areas and crossroads. From the early hours of the morning, the security personnel were directed to reach their posted points by the district administration.
A day before Senior Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar VK and District Magistrate Deepak Rawat held a joint meeting with the district officials giving directions for the smooth flow of traffic and implementing the traffic plan with route diversions.
The cops were given special instructions to keep people moving after taking holy dip. “We have given directions to our cops not to let anyone stay in Ganga river zone for long. Regular announcements are made to the people through public address systems to keep moving towards their destination. Even on ghats the deputed persons were directing the pilgrims to immediately leave the sanctum sanctorum after holy dip and not spend time in changing clothes.”
Ganga Dussehra marks the occasion of the descent of mother Ganga to earth. Mythology says that Ganga descended on this date and throughout the country, this festival lasts for ten days beginning on the Amavasya (new moon). Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Jyeshtha month. It is believed that by taking dip on Ganga Dussehra a person is freed from three-fold sufferings of body, mind and soul. Refraining from water as observation of Nirjala Ekadeshi is difficult yet rewarding from spiritual point of view say the religious personalities.