Allahabad : The month-long religious festival, "Magh Mela" begins here on Saturday on the sandy banks of the holy Ganga and Yamuna on the occasion of the "Makar Sankranti".

The day is also the first auspicious bathing day of the mela. Since the Makar Sankranti and "Paush Poornima" (full moon night in the month of Paush) are falling on the same day after a gap of 57 years, the importance of the holy dip has increased.

The other important bathing days are Mauni Amavasya (January 29), Basant Panchami (February 2) Maghi Purnima (February 13) and Mahashivratri (February 26).

Thousands of pilgrims including Saints, Sadhus and Kalpvasis (pilgrims who stay at the venue for the entire duration of the mela) have already arrived and the inflow was continuing. Devotees were using various modes of transport including tractors, jeeps, buses and cars.

Officials of various departments including PWD, U.P. Electricity Board, Municipal Corporation and Waterworks were seen giving the finishing touches to infrastructural facilities at the tent city for pilgrims on the banks of the rivers and at the bathing ghats.

The Mela administration has estimated that more that 50,00,000 devotees would reach here by Saturday for the holy dip. Special trains were being run and additional coaches attached to some trains passing through Allahabad for the next three days to clear the rush, officials said.

Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation was also plying extra buses from different places including Ayodhya, Varanasi and Chitrakoot as the pilgrims were expected to visit these religious places too.

The mela administration has already completed the work of the construction of new ghats especially at Sangam area where the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati meet.

Three new pontoon bridges have been built across the Ganga. However, work on the approach road, including laying of chequered plates, power supply and water taps was yet to be completed. About 300,000 kalpvasis, saints, and akharas (sant sects) have been accommodated in tents. The government provides free tent, power and water supply to the pilgrims and kalpvasis who stay in the mela area, divided into four zones.

As part of the elaborate security arrangements, eleven police stations, 24 sub stations and 12 fire stations are functioning in the mela area. The district police have divided the mela into three zones for maintaining law and order situation.

The police officers including Inspector General of Police, Allahabad zone and DIG, Allahabad range at a meeting with police officers and jawans, had stressed on maintaining a strict vigil keeping in view the recent terrorist attacks in Delhi, Banglore and Ayodhya in the recent past. Policewomen will also be deployed at the Sangam and other ghats. Two companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary, specially trained in rescue and relief will be deployed along with divers.

Closed circuit TV cameras have been installed at more than a dozen sensitive spots for monitoring and controlling the rush of the pilgrims and to detect anti-social elements. -- UNI

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