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Pilgrims take holy dip in Ganga

Allahabad: Braving winter chill, tens of thousands of pilgrims on Sunday took a holy dip in the river Ganga on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

The sprawling township of Ardh Kumbh at Sangam woke up to religious chants with pilgrims, including Kalpavasis, who spend a month of penance during Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh, thronging the nearly 30 `ghats' on the bank of the river and the Sangam where the mighty Yamuna merges with the Ganga and the mythical Saraswati.

The turn out in the early hours was, however, much below expectation.

Officials attributed this to security concerns among the people following terrorist strikes in Varanasi and Ayodhya and the publicity given to heightened security measures here this time for the Ardh Kumb congregation.

Despite early morning chill, pilgrims chanted the name of God before taking a holy dip.

A large number of devotees from different parts of the city and adjoining areas were seen heading towards the river on foot with plying of vehicles being banned. — PTI

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