The second 'royal dip' or Shahi Snan at the Simhastha Kumbh in Ujjain on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya saw sadhus of various 'akharas' performing the ritual with fanfare, barring some who complained of inconvenience due to the tight security arrangements. The first 'royal dip' was on April 22, the day the Simhastha Kumbh pilgrimage started.A sea of humanity converged in Ujjain for taking the dip in the Kshipra river. Tradition has it that akharas take the holy bath first at a predetermined time and place and then the others.
'Akhara' is an order of Hindu renunciates who see themselves as defending and protecting 'Dharma'.Ujjain reverberated with sacred chants as grand processions of sadhus marched towards the bathing ghats of Kshipra.The occasion of Akshaya Tritiya drew millions of people from across the country to this city.
Narendra Giri of Akhara Parishad (council) said the arrangements for the second royal dip were much better than for the first. Some sadhus, however, did protest against the inconvenience they experienced on account of security arrangements.
A pilgrim from Jhunjunu district of Rajasthan said, "We arrived in Ujjain for Akshaya Tritiya five days in advance. It's been a great fulfilment of our wish to have a darshan of lord Mahakaal."
Ravindra Singh, Dilip Kumar and Dhanajay Pande of Rohtas district of Bihar said they are visiting Ujjain along with 20 other family members.
lakhs of devotees, including mahants and sadhus of various akhadas along with other pilgrims, took the holy dip in the Kshipra river on the occasion of the second Shahi Snan (royal bath) as part of the ongoing Simhastha Maha Kumbh. The second Shahi Snan is of great significance because it coincides with Akshaya Tritiya. According to official sources, nearly 45 lakh devotees took the holy dip till the evening.
Sadhus from Shree Panchdanshnam Juna Akhada were the first to take the royal bath at Dutt Akhada Ghat at 0400 hrs. They were followed by Taponidhi, Niranjini and Panchayati akhadas who took bath at 0600 hrs instead of 0500 hrs as scheduled earlier. later, Naga sadhus from other akhadas took the holy dip. Similarly, sadhus of Vaishnavite akhadas took the royal bath at Ramghat.
Sadhus of 10 akhadas have taken the holy dip. Sadhus of Shree Panchayati Bada Udasin, Shree Panchayati Naya Udasin and Nirmal akhadas were still to take the royal bath. Other faithfuls were taking holy dip at Mangalnath, Triveni, Shani Mandir, Narsingh and other ghats. Elaborate security arrangements were made at various ghats for the Shahi Snan.