UP: Faith prevailed over fear and lakhs of devotees, throwing caution to the winds, took a holy dip at Sangam on Friday to mark the auspicious occasion of ‘Makar Sankranti’.
Devotees abandoned masks and social distancing was nowhere to be seen as people rubbed shoulders with each other to take the holy dip and offer prayers.
Magh Mela, the 47-day annual religious fair began officially on Friday morning — the first official bathing festival of Makar Sankranti on the banks of Sangam.
Pilgrims, saints and seers began to arrive for the occasion in large numbers on the eve of Makar Sankranti from Thursday and the fear of the third Corona wave was nowhere to be seen.
Officials had a tough time in controlling crowds and ensuring implementation of Covid protocols.
Mela official Shesh Mani Pandey said that efforts were continuously being made to prevent crowding either in the rivers or on the banks.
“Ten main bathing ghats have been set up for the pilgrims this time around. These would be stretching from Nagvasuki to Quila Ghat near Sangam in order to divert devotees to avoid overcrowding at one place,” he said. Officials expect around five lakh pilgrims to take the holy dip on Friday.
