Biting cold coupled with dense fog today kept Maha Kumbh devotees at bay on the occasion of Basant Panchmi with only a few hundreds turning up to take a dip in the icy waters of the Ganga,the third auspicious day in the three-month-long holy congregation. In stark contrast to lakhs of devotees flocking the ghats here for the holy dip on the first day of the Kumbh on January 14 and the next day which coincided with the solar eclipse on January 15,the majority of people seen this morning at the Hari Ki Pauri main bathing ghat here were securitymen. Basant Panchmi marks the beginning of spring and is also a day dedicated to Saraswati,the goddess of learning. The day is celebrated by taking a dip in rivers and flying kites. But kite enthusiasts also kept indoors with only a few braving the cold weather to step out.Many people had spent large amounts to buy kites of various shapes and colours besides special threads coated with glass dust. The Kumbh mela administration,which had expected a much bigger turnout especially those from states having agriculture as their main stay,and nearby areas,said the cold weather could have been a dampener. The other key dates for the baths,which people believe wash away their sins,are January 30 (Magh Purnima),February 12 (Maha Shivaratri),March 15 (Somvati Amavasya),March 16 (Nvasamvatsar),March 24 (Rama Navami),March 30 (Chaitra Purnima),April 14 (Mesh Sankranti) and April 28 (Baishakh Adimasaha Purnima). February 12 will be a significant day in the Kumbh as Naga sadhus,who smear their naked bodies with ash,will lead the Hindu akharas (religious orders) in taking a dip. In the previous Kumbhs,pilgrims have been allowed to take their dip only after Naga sadhus,who are Shiva devotees,are through with the rituals. Asked if the weather was one of the reasons for the low turnout today,Chief Mela Officer Anand Bardha said,It could also be a reason. However,he was optimistic about more people turning up later in the day for the dip. The pilgrims and the kite enthusiasts here are waiting for the Sun to come up before they set for the ghats or fly kites, he said. Rajesh,an enthusiast who spent Rs 4000 on purchasing kites,said,Let the Sun come up and you will see the sky dotted with beautiful kites. Undaunted by the bone-biting chill,over 10 lakh devotees had taken a holy dip on January 14 in the freezing waters of the Ganga here heralding the start of the three- month-long Maha Kumbh,the worlds largest religious congregation that takes place once in 12 years here. On January 15 also,lakhs of devotees had taken their dip after the solar eclipse which coincided with Mauni Amavasya after a gap of 565 years,making it a particularly auspicious occasion.
