ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 13, 2006: With the ceremonial entry of Nirmal Akhara in the Ardh Kumbh Mela today, all 10 akharas of saints have taken up their position at the Sangam for the most important phase of the congregation beginning from Makar Sankranti tomorrow. The akharas (monastic orders) will, however, have their “shahi snan” of makar sankranti on January 15 as the sun enters the tropic of capricorn only after 2300 hours tomorrow. They will march in a procession led by the head of each akhara followed by others in the hierarchy of their order and a large number of ascetic followers in what has been termed as “shahi snan” (royal bath). But with nearly five million pilgrims, including “kalpavasis” who spend a month of penance during Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh, taking a holy dip tomorrow, plying of vehicles in the mela area has been banned from this afternoon and heavy vehicles using Allahabad as a transit route are being diverted from the adjoining districts. Prohibitory orders under section 144 have been clamped on the mela area of over 4,000 acres, but these will not apply to processions of akharas or assembly of others for the purpose of bathing.
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