A Hindu devote offers prayers during a holy bath on the auspicious Makar Sankranti day at a natural hot water spring in Tattapani, about 52 kilometers (33 miles) north of Shimla on Jan 14, 2014
Thousands of devotees across Himachal Pradesh took a dip in rivers early on Tuesday to mark Makar Sankranti, considered a holy day.
Huge gatherings were reported at Tattapani, 50 km from the state capital, and Manikaran, home to a Sikh shrine in Kullu district, for a holy dip in the Sutlej and Parvati rivers respectively, officials said.
Both Tattapani and Manikaran, known for hot springs with high sulphur concentration, witnessed a majority of devotees mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
"We are expecting a daily arrival of over 25,000 devotees on Makar Sankranti," a priest at Tattapani told IANS.
Likewise, the devotees took a holy bath in Vashist temple, located on the outskirts of the popular tourist resort Manali.
The temple is situated on the left bank of Beas river, also known for its hot springs.
Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of the country.
It also marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights.