Kumbh begins on peaceful note, lakhs throng Sangam

Kumud Sharma, Sudha Devi, Anita and Surya Kumar Sharma had come from Purnea. While Surya Kumar was over 70, the others were in mid-60s. Having landed at Allahabad junction this morning, they walked with their bedding, at least four bags and some packed food to Sangam. "We lost two of our bags during the journey. We don't even have clothes to change," said Kumud.

Sangam Lal Chaurasia of Chhatadih in Allahabad had managed to get a rickshaw right up to the Sangam ghat, requesting senior officials to let him go. He was carrying his grandmother, aged over 100, and grand-mother-in-law aged around 80. Naseem, the rickshaw puller, was wary of entering into Sangam area and had finally settled for Rs 80 one way. "Itna hee nahin, hum isko aur bhi denge. Yeh hamare liye shravan kumar hai (This is not all. We will give him more. He is like Shravan Kumar to me)," said Sangam Lal, a paan seller, referring to the mythological son, who carried his blind parents for pilgrimage.

Superintendent of Police (Jal police and Snan Ghat) Shiv Hari said: "These two women cannot walk. So they were allowed." He added that the fact that Sangam ghat extended right up to Qila Ghat had made their task easy in so far as managing the crowd was concerned. "Even the enclosures for shahi snan are so wide that we are allowing common people to use it in the intervals between two processions," he said.

Earlier in the day, the akharas' processions, with Naga Sadhus in the forefront and many brandishing swords, spears and machetes, bore the royal touch to which they are entitled to particularly in the Kumbh at Allahabad, as they are treated like kings.

True to its reputation, the biggest contingent of the Naga Sadhus was that of Juna Akhara, which is the largest among the 13 akharas. Mahanirvani and Atal had taken the lead, taking the first bath around 5.15 am.

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