An estimated number of 20 lakh pilgrims have taken the holy dip in the Ganga on Monday on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya, claim the officials. The influx of devotees had begun on Sunday. A long weekend and the auspicious occasion beckoned the people from Delhi and NCR aside from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to the holy city. With the people coming in their droves, the temporary bus stands made at Rishikul saw a huge rush on Sunday and Monday. Given the state of things, the movement of heavy vehicles in the city remained stopped since Sunday midnight till Monday midnight. Moreover, the Hill By-Pass Road and Chilla Road have been thrown open to ease the traffic flow in the city area. The auspicious time marking the Amavasya started on Monday morning and continued till late evening. As many as 13.43 lakh pilgrims had taken the holy dip at Har Ki Pauri till 4 pm on Monday, say the cops. Aside from taking the holy dip during Somwati Amavasya, those who gathered in the city from across the country performed tarpan (offering prayers to the ancestors) at Narayani Shila and Kushawart Ghats. As per the belief running through ages, an offering made to the ancestors during the auspicious period reaches them. It is also believed that the punya gained through taking holy dip and performing other rituals during this period amount to more than what is earned through performing ‘Ashwamedha Yajnas’. SP City Mamta Vohra said, “The tragic movement on the highways or other roads linking Har Ki Paidi have not faced much of congestion despite over 13 lakh pilgrims having taken the dip at Har Ki Pauri and other Ganga ghats till 4 pm. The number would further rise to reach over 20 lakh by the time the evening arti would be held. Four-wheelers were allowed beyond Rishikul in the afternoon towards the railway station.” Dwelling on the traffic arrangements made to meet the rush of the devotees, senior superintendent of police Krishna Kumar VK said that the mela zone had been divided into zones and sectors. “Police were positioned across the highways and the major crossings to ensure that things were smooth on the roads. The pace of the vehicular movement slowed down a bit as the traffic was diverted from laksar region. But no major congestion was reported from anywhere. Traffic was diverted from Narsen entry point and inside the city, the buses were diverted through the Chilla route,” he said. He further said that zero zone was marked from the post office tri-junction to the main market of Har Ki Pauri and towards Bhim Goda area. Two bomb squad and dog squad teams were deputed in the mela zone too with the close- circuit cameras monitoring things round the clock, SSP added.