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| India's Kumbh Mela festival holds most auspicious day | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Soutik Biswas BBC News, Allahabad | By Soutik Biswas BBC News, Allahabad |
| The main day of bathing is taking place at India's Kumbh Mela, with more than 30 million pilgrims expected to take a dip at the confluence of India's Ganges and Yamuna rivers. | |
| This is the most auspicious of six bathing days at the event, billed as the biggest human gathering on Earth. | This is the most auspicious of six bathing days at the event, billed as the biggest human gathering on Earth. |
| More than eight million took to the waters on the opening day, 14 January. | More than eight million took to the waters on the opening day, 14 January. |
| Hindus believe a festival dip at Sangam - where the rivers meet - will cleanse sins and help bring salvation. | Hindus believe a festival dip at Sangam - where the rivers meet - will cleanse sins and help bring salvation. |
| In all, up to 100 million pilgrims are expected to bathe in the holy waters in January and February at the 55-day Kumbh Mela, which is held every 12 years. | In all, up to 100 million pilgrims are expected to bathe in the holy waters in January and February at the 55-day Kumbh Mela, which is held every 12 years. |
| This occasion is also a Maha Kumbh Mela, which comes round only once every 144 years. | This occasion is also a Maha Kumbh Mela, which comes round only once every 144 years. |
| 'Unprecedented' | 'Unprecedented' |
| Early in the morning on Sunday, holy men - and some women - belonging to various Hindu monastic orders arrived to bathe. | |
| Carrying pennants, bow and arrow and banners, many danced and beat drums. Some arrived on gaudily decorated chariots. Others arrived on horses. Most were dressed in saffron. | |
| The sadhus, mostly naked, dreadlocked and smeared in ash, ran to the river amid heavy security. | |
| There are also thousands of poor families living under the open skies in cold weather here at the sprawling festival grounds in the northern city of Allahabad. | |
| One young devotee, Ashutosh Pandey, a pharmacy student, said the holy dip was a form of prayer for him. | |
| "When I bathe I am praying to God for the good of my country and the world," he said. | |
| More than 14,000 policemen, along with paramilitary forces and commandos, have been deployed to ensure security on Sunday. | More than 14,000 policemen, along with paramilitary forces and commandos, have been deployed to ensure security on Sunday. |
| Police officers, many of them on horseback, are having a hard time controlling the crowds, as many of the bathers linger to gaze at the colourful processions of the holy men. | |
| The festival's police chief, RKS Rathore, said the turnout for Sunday would be "unprecedented". | The festival's police chief, RKS Rathore, said the turnout for Sunday would be "unprecedented". |
| He said some 12 million people had arrived at the festival grounds on Saturday alone. | He said some 12 million people had arrived at the festival grounds on Saturday alone. |
| The bathing on Sunday - the most auspicious day according to Hindu tradition - is taking place at 18 main locations along the river bank. | The bathing on Sunday - the most auspicious day according to Hindu tradition - is taking place at 18 main locations along the river bank. |
| Rajkumar Singh, a government worker from the state of Punjab, said: "I have travelled for three days by bus, train and foot to reach the festival. | Rajkumar Singh, a government worker from the state of Punjab, said: "I have travelled for three days by bus, train and foot to reach the festival. |
| "I believe a bathe on the most auspicious day will get rid of all my sins and will help secure me and my family's future." | "I believe a bathe on the most auspicious day will get rid of all my sins and will help secure me and my family's future." |
| Officials at the Mela said that some 12 million people had already taken a holy dip at the festival since its opening on 14 January. | Officials at the Mela said that some 12 million people had already taken a holy dip at the festival since its opening on 14 January. |
| The 14 hospitals at the Mela grounds have already treated more than 150,000 pilgrims since the opening. Two pilgrims have died. | The 14 hospitals at the Mela grounds have already treated more than 150,000 pilgrims since the opening. Two pilgrims have died. |
| Most of those treated suffered from respiratory problems, cold, joint pains and dust allergy, Dr Kalim Aqmal, at the main hospital, said. | Most of those treated suffered from respiratory problems, cold, joint pains and dust allergy, Dr Kalim Aqmal, at the main hospital, said. |
| A "lost-and-found" centre has reunited 40,000 people since the opening of the festival, officials said. | A "lost-and-found" centre has reunited 40,000 people since the opening of the festival, officials said. |
| The Kumbh Mela has its origins in Hindu mythology. | The Kumbh Mela has its origins in Hindu mythology. |
| Many believe that when gods and demons fought over a pitcher of nectar, a few drops fell in the cities of Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar - the four places where the Kumbh festival has been held for centuries. | Many believe that when gods and demons fought over a pitcher of nectar, a few drops fell in the cities of Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar - the four places where the Kumbh festival has been held for centuries. |