Haridwar, Oct 28 The Ardh Kumbh Mela in Uttarakhand next year will feature 11 ‘Amrit Snans’, beginning on Makar Sankranti on January 14 and concluding on Chaitra Poornima on April 20, while divine palanquins carrying deities from different parts of the state will be taken out in a procession and given a ritual bath in the Ganga on March 15, the Mela administration said on Wednesday.
As part of the event, a procession of the ‘Dev Dolies’ (divine palanquins) will be held in Rishikesh on March 14, followed by an ‘Amrit Snan’ (sacred ritual bath) in Haridwar the next day.
Details of the arrangements for the Dev Doli procession and the ritual bath were discussed at a meeting chaired by Additional Mela Officer Dayanand Saraswati.
Saraswati said the procession and the Ganga bath during the Kumbh Mela would provide a significant opportunity to showcase Uttarakhand’s rich folk culture, religious beliefs and centuries-old traditions.
“Through this event, pilgrims and visitors from across the country and the world will have the chance to gain a deeper understanding of the unique cultural heritage and faith of ‘Devbhoomi’,” he said.
Office-bearers of the Devbhoomi Lok Sanskriti Virasat Shobhayatra Samiti said arrangements were being made for the arrival of the Dev Dolies, along with accompanying representatives and devotees.
Mela Officer Sonika on Wednesday conducted an on-site inspection of the Pantdweep area to review the progress of projects being executed by the Uttarakhand Infrastructure and Investment Development Board (UIIDB) to develop the area north of Har Ki Pauri.
During the inspection, she directed officials to accord top priority to the systematic management of potential crowds in the area during the Kumbh Mela.
Sonika emphasised that the movement of pilgrims along walkways and between adjacent ghats must remain smooth and unhindered.
Stressing the need for adequate arrangements to ensure convenience and safety at the ghats, Sonika also directed officials to ensure that the Ganga riverfront remained clearly visible from a distance, so that pilgrims could navigate the area and reach the ghats without unnecessary inconvenience.
(PTI News)
