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8 million pilgrims take holy dip at sangam

Chanting Har Har Mahadev and Jai Sitaram , the sadhus, belonging to 13 akharas and carrying spears, swords recalling their warrior past, plunged into icy waters of the confluence the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers for the shahi snan (royal bath).

But unlike in the past when Naga sadhus owing allegiance to disparate groups had fought for taking the first dip, there was no violence this time around following an amicable agreement.

The Nirvani Akhara was the first to undertake shahi snan followed by Niranjan and Juna Akharas, Mela Commissioner Sadakant told newspersons in Allahabad.

He said the bathing was over but devotees trickled in even after nightfall. "The bathing was peaceful," he added.

While commoners had started flocking the sangam ghats shortly after midnight, processions of the akharas for the shahi snan began in the wee hours, he said.

Vehicles, including tractors, bands and horses accompanied the processions of the akharas to the sangam.

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Kumbh mela

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