Mahashivratri marks the final holy dip of Kumbh 2019, massive crowd expected in Prayagraj

The Sangam area is expected to remain more crowded than previous years since it is the last bating day.

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New Delhi: Kumbh 2019 is witnessing its last holy dip on Monday, which is also the festival of Mahashivratri. More than 22 crore devotees have take the holy bath in th confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati at the Prayagraj Kumbh here. In a rare coincidence Mahashivratri festival is falling on Monday, the day dedicated to Lord Shiva, after a long time. The Sangam area is expected to remain more crowded than previous years since it is the last bating day. Kumbh Mela Adhikari Vijay Kiran Anand said “around one crore devotees and pilgrims from different walks of life are expected to take a dip in Sangam on the occasion of Mahashivratri. More than 22 crore people have so far taken dip in the ongoing Kumbh”. As per the religious experts, Mahashivratri marks the culmination of the Kumbh and the prominent bathing days. The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, held in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad from January 15 on Makar Sakranti to March 4 this year. "This day symbolises the last holy bath of the Kalpvasis and is directly related to Lord Shiva. As per the mythology, this day is awaited in the heavens as well," Gunjan Varshney, president of Ram Naam Bank situated at Civil Lines here, told news agency PTI. She also said it was on this day that Lord Shiva got married, and hence is eagerly awaited by his followers, who worship him. In the Kumbh held in Sangam city, there were six bathing dates.               "Of these, shahi snaans were held on occasions of Makar Sankranti (January 15), Mauni Amawasya (February 4) and Basant Panchami (February 10). Apart from this, 'parv snaans have been held on the occasion of Paush Poornima (January 21) and Maghi Poornima (February 19). Elaborate arrangements have been made by administration for the last bathing ritual of the Kumbh, which expects around one crore devotees at the mega event held at the Sangam.