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With the arrival of akharas, Ardh Kumbh picks up

PHOTO: PTI

PROCESSION: Devotees from abroad taking part in a religious procession during the Ardh Kumbh mela in Allahabad on Tuesday.

Allahabad: The Ardh Kumbh is now buzzing with activities of `sadhus', pilgrims and tourists as seven sects of Hindu ascetics have descended on the mela grounds with the ceremonial entry of Mahanirvani Akhara on Tuesday.

Yoga guru Swami Ramdev would be holding free classes at Swami Hans Das' camp from Wednesday and Ramesh Bhai Ojha would also address it while Art of Living guru Sri Sri Ravishankar will participate in the Rudrabhishek there on January 22.

Dwarkapeeth Sankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati has also reached the mela ground in a `Shobha Yatra' and Morari Bapu has been holding his discourse on the legend of Lord Rama.

Besides the Mahanirvanis, the Joona, Agni, Niranjani, Anand, Awahan and Bada Udasin sects are camping in the grounds and Atal Akhara due for `peshwai' (ceremonial entry) on Wednesday.

Naya Udasin sect would be arriving on January 11 and Nirmal on January 13 before its culmination of Makar Sakranti day on January 14.

Three akharas - Nirvani Ani, Digambar and Nirmohi - do not follow the `peshwai' tradition.

It was earlier announced that entry into Swami Ramdev's classes would be against coupons of Rs 2,100 and Rs 1,100 each, but Swami Hans Das has said it would be free for 4,000 people at a time.

The camp of Prabhu Premi Seva Trust over an area of two lakh square feet with an 5,000-capacity Katha Mandapam is attracting lots of tourists and devotees. Mahamandaleshwar Swami Awadheshanand Giri of Joona Akhara holds his discourse on Bhagwadgita and Ram Katha there.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Government on Wednesday maintained that more water was being released into the Ganga from dams and increase in quantity will improve the quality. PTI

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