Two crore expected to take holy dip on Kumbh's third 'shahi snan' on Sunday

All roads led to Sangam city where devotees gathered ahead the third and the final shahi snan on Basant Panchami, falling Sunday, during which more than two crore people are expected to take a holy dip at the Kumbh Mela.

The festival of Basant Panchami heralds the arrival of spring and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.

Allahabad Mayor Abhilasha Gupta Nandi told PTI, "Basant Panchami is the third and last shaahi snaan of the Kumbh. By taking three dips on this day, a devotee gets the blessings of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Hence, it holds tremendous significance for people."
Ashutosh Varshney of Ram Sewa Trust, who set up his camp in Sector 6 in the Mela, said, "It is said that by making a donation, of one's choice, to river Ganga on Basant Panchami, a person stands to gain knowledge."