The Hindu : Front Page : People throng Kurukshetra

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Saturday, Aug 02, 2008
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People throng Kurukshetra

CHANDIGARH: Lakhs of men, women and children who arrived in Kurukshetra from across the country took holy dip in the sacred Brahmasarover on the partial solar eclipse on Friday.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his wife Asha Hooda were among the dignitaries who took the dip, widely considered to have spiritual and astrological significance.

For peace, prosperity

Mr. Hooda told the media that he had prayed for prosperity of the State and the country and world peace.

He said it was a common belief that by having a dip in the holy tank in Kurukshetra at the time of solar eclipse one gets the benefit of having performed 1,000 “Ashwamegh Yagyas”. Also one gets “moksha” (salvation), he said.

As the clock struck 4 p.m., a large number of saints and pilgrims took the dip in the sacred tanks amid chanting of hymns and blowing of conches. The eclipse was visible in Kurukshetra up to 5.55 p.m.

The district administration had made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims. Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Aggarwal said that pilgrims coming to the city were insured and in case of death of a pilgrim within a radius of seven km. from Brahmasarover, an insurance claim of Rs.1 lakh would be given to the next of kin of the deceased. This benefit of insurance cover is valid from 8 a.m. on July 30 to 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Security measures

The official said it was for the first time that the mela administration had sought the services of 20 divers from the Indian Navy to strengthen rescue measures at sacred tanks. Closed circuit TV cameras were installed at sensitive points to keep an eye on activities of anti-social elements.

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