The second Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) of Haridwar Maha Kumbha Mela 2010

The thousand year old Sampradaya of Shankracharyas led a saffron surge as nearly six Million (60 lakh) pilgrims took holy dip in the Ganga at the Haridwar Ghats on maha kumbh mela, marking its second royal bath on 15 March 2010 on the Hindu Calendars Somavati Amavasya

Amid chanting of vedic hymns and shlokas, Swami Nischalanand, the Shankracharya of Puri and Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, the Shankracharya of Dwarka and Badrinath joined tens of thousands of mahandleshwars, sadhus and other seers of 13 akharas/akhadas (sects) that made the Somvati Amavasya literally a saffron occasion with pilgrims queuing up in large number to have a glimpse at Har-Ki-Pauri, the main bathing ghat. This was the first time during the mahakumbh mela that all the 13 akharas came together; making the occasion more royal

The procession of Joona Akhara saw huge flags and nearly 10,000 Naga Sadhu. Akhara members reached the Har-Ki-Pauri, the main bathing ghat, in colourful processions as thousands of pilgrims and followers lined the roads with folded hands

Pilgrims took bath in other ghats amid tight security arrangements with water police keeping a close vigil on the hectic day. The nearly 15-km-long Ghat in Haridwar and Rishikesh was flooded with devotes since last midnight

Somvati Amavasya or a no moon day falling on a Monday is considered auspicious according to Hindu calendar. So the normal pilgrims alone with the sadhu crowd added to the prestige of this year’s Kumbha Mela

Kalpavasi.com also hosted a delegation of pilgrims from California on the occasion of the Second Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) of the Haridwar Maha Kumbha Mela

Dr. Manish Mokshagundam