HARIDWAR, INDIA, January 14, 2016 (Hindustan Times): The Ardh Kumbh Mela opened to a colorful start in Haridwar, with thousands of devotees taking part in the first snan or holy dip in the Ganga on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti on Thursday. The Har Ki Pauri – the famous ghat on the banks on the Ganga in Haridwar – witnessed a rush of pilgrims from across the country, with devotees immersing themselves into the icy waters of the Ganga.
The Ardh Kumbh Mela takes place in Haridwar and Allahabad every six years (off the cycle of the Maha Kumbh Mela every 12 years). Attending it is considered to be highly auspicious and a dip in the holy waters of the Ganga is believed to absolve one’s sins.
The police and other security forces were seen manning the ghats, with metal detectors, sniffer dogs and tear gas on standby. Aerial drones kept an eye on the activities at the Har Ki Pauri, even as officials at a nearby watch tower were on guard. Deputy mela officer Avdhesh Kumar Singh said that an estimated 500,000 pilgrims had already arrived in the holy city. “The Kumbh Mela has been proceeding peacefully, with no untoward incident having been reported so far. We are keeping a close eye on developments,” he said.