Summary:
ALLAHABAD: Sleep was a remotest thought for millions of pilgrims who tread several km on foot to reach the Kumbh Mela grounds all through the night. It is this aspect of Hindu mythology that is recaptured at Mauni Amavasya when seers enter into a vow of silence on the day and take part in the shahi snan. Bags stacked with basic amenities and jholas stacked on their heads, millions of pilgrims jostled their way to reach the Sangam as the shahi snan began 11 minutes past midnight, when the moon was eclipsed. Even under a dark sky, abundant lighting on mela grounds, including the decorative entry ways set up by akharas, had the Mela ground roaring with activity, and vehicular movement remained barred from all city points to the Sangam. The Mela ground was teeming with people hours before the second and largest snan on Mauni Amavasya.Mela authorities said more than 5 crore people took the holy dip by 5 pm on Monday and 5,200 people were reunited with their families on the auspicious day.Legend has it that on this day, the first sage, Rishabh Dev, broke his indefinite vow of silence (maun) and bathed in the Sangam..