Devotees take a holy dip in the River Ganga during Magh Mela in Allahabad on Tuesday. (Press Trust of India photo)
It was a celestial event that was happening after a gap of 122 years, and nearly a crore of devotees chose not to pass up the opportunity for a holy bath. Almost one crore people took a dip in the River Ganga at Allahabad on Mauni Amavasya, as part of the ongoing Magh Mela.
Priests say this auspicious date has fallen after a gap of 122 years where different planets have aligned to the Capricorn sign. This made it the most important of the five auspicious baths of the Magh Mela, which lasts for a month and a half. The other four auspicious happen on Makar Sankranti, Basant Panchmi, Magh Poornima and Shivratri.
According to the local administration, almost one crore people visited the ghats for the holy bath.
Over 3000 security personnel, drawn from the state police, including the RAF and PAC, along with 26 CCTV cameras to ensure smooth functioning of the event.