SANGAM (ALLAHABAD): The 44-day Magh Mela is set to begin with approximately 50 lakh pilgrims, including scores of kalpwasis, expected to take a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of Yamuna, Ganga and mythological Saraswati, on the occasion of Paush Purnima on Thursday.With lakhs of pilgrims, devotees and saints already flocked mela campus to take holy dip on the first day of month of 'Magh', the mela police on Wednesday reviewed the security arrangements. Around 3,500 policemen ranking from constables to ASP's have been deployed at static locations.SSP, Allahabad, Shalabh Mathur told TOI "The flow of crowd continued towards mela campus and for that, elaborate arrangements have been put in place for the first holy bath." He added that devotees and pilgrims not only from UP but neighbouring states like MP, and Bihar have too arrived mela campus braving the chilly weather conditions.As it is said that all wishes comes true with holy dip on pious occasion of Paush Purnima, other activities like donations, charities, yajna and keertan etc would be the main features of the sacred day.Religious scholar, Ashutosh Varshney says " Paush Purnima marks the beginning of a month-long austerity period which is observed during Magha month. He added "Purnima thiti began on January 11 at 19: 51 pm and end on January 12 at 17:03 pm." Devotees believe that a holy dip in sacred river Ganga and Yamuna on this day frees the soul from cycle of reincarnation and the person is detached from all the bad karmas committed in this birth and previous births as well.During the entire Magh month, kalpwasis stay on the bank and take early morning bath to earn 'punya'. The daily bathing starts from Paush Purnima and ends on Magha Purnima. "It is believed that the holy dip on the auspicious day of Paush Purnima liberates the soul from the cycle of birth and death."Mela police have too implemented traffic diversions on various routes to regulate crowd on the first bathing day. Besides, vehicles' entry on the mela campus too has been banned.Meanwhile, officials maintained that around one lakh kalpwasis would be the main attraction of the day. Separate arrangements have been made for vehicles and pedestrians to prevent chaotic situation on pontoon bridges. Pedestrians would have the first right to walk on pontoon bridges and Sangam area on the bathing day.DM Sanjay Kumar, meanwhile said that facilities in terms of medical & health, transportation, sanitation, bathing ghats, security, fire services, lost & found, potable water, pollution control, milk supply and other civic amenities have been upgraded.Bathing would take place on all 17 ghats with adequate strength of Jal policemen being deployed to check cases of drowning. At all ghats, barricading has been done and warning boards installed.

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