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Mahakumbh mela: Millions take a dip at Sangam

[email protected] (Naeem Siddeeq)
January 15, 2013
Lucknow, Jan 15: More than 10 million devotees from across the world took a holy dip in the sacred waters of “sangam” (the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers) at Allahabad amid tight security as the Mahakumbh mela began at Allahabad on Monday.

The first “shahi snan” (“royal baths” at the sangam by saints and sadhus of the 13 akharas) began at 5 am in the morning with the “naga sadhus” leading the way.mela

The near naked and ash smeared naga sadhus blew conch shells and danced as they moved towards the sangam bank.  The “Mahanirvani” and “Atal” akharas were the first to take a holy dip followed by the “Niranjani” and “Anand” akharas. Then, other akharas took turns to take a bath in the holy waters.

Devotees braved the chilly weather conditions to take a holy dip at the 18 “ghats” (banks) along the sangam. Crowds started gathering at the sangam area since Sunday evening.  Security personnel had a tough time controlling the surging devotees who thronged the sangam banks at dawn.

At one point, the situation threatened to go out of control when the crowds stayed on the banks, blocking the way for the other devotees. Senior police officials reached the spot and made the crowd to leave the bank to pave way for the incoming devotees.

“By evening, an estimated 10 million devotees had taken bath on the occasion of Makar Sankranti,” officials said, adding that the number devotees from abroad was also formidable.

A battery of mediapersons, both national and international, captured the bathing by the naga sadhus. The administration had made special arrangements for the mediapersons to cover the congregation.

The Mahakumbh, held every 12 years, is a 55-day event during which as many as six shahi snans will take place. The next  royal bath will take place on “Mauni Amavasya” (Februrary 10) followed by “Basant Panchami” (Februrary 15).

The other important days for the Maha Kumbh are “Pauash Purnima” (January 27), “Maghi Purinma” (February 25) and “Maha Shivratri” (March 10).

Tight security arrangements have been made keeping in view the threat perception from terrorists.

According to sources in the state Home Department, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has alerted the police on possible terrorist threat to the mela. Teams from the National Disaster Management Authority, bomb disposal and anti-sabotage squads have also been deployed.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arun Kumar said 30 police stations and 40 outposts have been set up at the place and they are being manned by 50 inspectors, 550 sub-inspectors, 450 head constables and 5,800 constables.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 31: In Kerala, the prisoners will now work as employees in petrol pumps and take home a salary, as the Kerala government has rolled out Petrol Pumps from jail premises in association with Indian Oil Corporation.

Speaking to news agency, Rishiraj Singh, Jail DGP said that initiative to employ jail inmates in petrol pumps was taken as in Kerala there are many projects of which prisoners are a part of and are being employed.

"In petrol pumps, 15 jail inmates will be employed at each pump. The outlets of Thiruvananthapuram, Viyyur and Cheemeni jails have been started to function from today. 

Many express doubt whether the prisoners will try to escape. But my experience working with them prove otherwise. They are managing five cafeterias in the state and selling food prepared by them. We pay them Rs 220 per day for their work and the jail inmates are running it successfully particularly at COVID-19 times," he said.

The Indian Oil Corporation is investing around Rs 9.5 crore to set up four petrol pumps at the jail premises. The share of the jail department is Rs 30 lakh for setting up petroleum outlet. Other than the three presently, it will also be started in Kannur jail.

"The land has been leased to the Indian Oil Corporation for 30 years. The prisoners are employed here and for that, they underwent a training in petrol pump of IOC and the uniform will also be supplied by them, " said Rishiraj Singh About 25 cents in Thiruvananthapuram, 39 cents in Kannur, 25 cents in Viyur and 25 cents in Cheemeni open jail have been allotted.

Through this, the government will get Rs 5.9 lakh per month in rent. 

It also plans to expand the project in the future by setting up a CNG and electrical charging station. 

The petrol pumps will be also accompanied by public comfort stations.

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Agencies
July 13,2020

New Delhi, Jul 13: Top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, are in touch with Sachin Pilot and are trying to placate him, a day after the Rajasthan Deputy CM declared open rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, sources said on Monday.

Pilot has claimed that the Ashok Gehlot government is in minority and that he has the support of over 30 MLAs in the 200-member Assembly.

According to sources, top Congress leaders have talked to Pilot and have asked him not to rebel against the chief minister. They also assured him that his grievances would be redressed at the party level.

For latest updates on Rajasthan political crisis, click here

Besides Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, other Congress leaders who are learnt to have spoken with Pilot are Ahmed Patel, former Union finance minister P Chidambaram and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal.

It was not immediately known what transpired during the discussions.

Sources said the leaders asked Pilot to attend a Congress Legislature Party meeting in Jaipur, but he has not given any assurance.

Pilot, who is in Delhi, has not been taking calls of many party leaders. AICC general secretary in-charge for Rajasthan Avinash Pande has said that Pilot has not been responding to calls and messages have been left with him.

Pilot has raised a banner of revolt against Gehlot after the special operations group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police sent a notice to him for appearing before it in the case involving "horse-trading" of MLAs in the state.

The SOG has registered an FIR in this regard and has also sent notices to the chief minister, chief whip of Congress and some ministers and MLAs.

Meanwhile, Congress has pulled out all the stops to save its government in Rajasthan and CM Gehlot has convened a meeting of the state legislature party.

Pilot, who is also the state Congress president, is miffed with Gehlot and has alleged that he was not being kept in the loop on key decisions.

The Congress Legislature Party meeting began about three hours later than scheduled, with ministers and MLAs flashed victory signs for the cameras.

The Congress said 109 MLAs have already expressed support for Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, rejecting the claim by Deputy Chief Minister and the party’s state unit president Sachin Pilot that the senior leader does not have the majority.

About 100 MLAs had walked into the chief minister’s residence by 12.30 pm, an hour before the meeting actually started.

But some MLAs considered close to Pilot had not arrived till then. 

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Agencies
February 29,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 29: With Saudi Arabia indefinitely suspending visas for visit to Islam's holiest site for the Umrah pilgrimage in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, more than 10,000 people in the state who are awaiting their turn this year for the annual Hajj pilgrimage are a worried lot.

"This year more than 10,000 people in Kerala have been cleared by the Hajj committee," said C Muhammed Faizy, chairman, Kerala State Hajj Committee.

"There is no cause of worry. We hope that during the time of the pilgrimage, the travel restriction by Saudi Arabia will be lifted," he said.

Umrah is a pilgrimage to the holy site that can be undertaken at any time of the year, while the annual Hajj pilgrimage has specific months according to the lunar calendar.

"The move by the Saudi Arabian Government to impose travel restriction was due to the outbreak of coronavirus. It is a preventive step to contain it. In such large gatherings, if one person is affected, it will spread to others. So we fully understand the concerns of the Saudi Government," Muhammed Faizy added.

He said that the Hajj Committee only processes the requests of annual Hajj visit pilgrims and not Umrah.

"This year we expect the Hajj pilgrimage season to be from June to August after Ramzan. But it may vary according to the Ramzan date. We are yet to get any official correspondence from the Saudi Government regarding travel restrictions," he added.

The Saudi Arabian Government suspended visas for tourists from countries affected by the coronavirus, with many having to cancel their Umrah pilgrimage at the last minute.

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