Devotees throng Kshipra river for last snan as Simhastha Kumbh Mela comes to an end

Ujjain: A sea of humanity, some drawn from abroad, braving the sultry weather on Saturday flooded the banks of Kshipra river for the ongoing third and last ‘shahi snan’ (royal bath) of the Simhastha-Kumbh Mela, marking the end of the month-long festival.

The ‘snan’ began in the wee hours with Naga and other sadhus of various akharas venturing into the holy Kshipra chanting “Har Har Mahadev”. The third royal bath has become all the more important as it coincides with Buddh Purnima (full moon day), said priest Ishwar Sharma.

“Lakhs of people have converged from several parts of the country to take the holy dip,” Madhya Pradesh Transport Minister and in charge of Simhastha Mela Bhupendra Singh said at Ramghat.

The Minister claimed that a total of 7.5 crore people have taken part in the mela (till noon) which turned out to be a “Mahakumbh.” The Minister termed the Simhastha, which is being organised here after a gap of every 12 years, as a “grand success.”

Referring to the squall that hit the mela on May 5 and claimed seven lives, Singh said though 700 tents were damaged, the casualties were not much if you look at the damages that the storm had caused. Ramghat was decked up for the holy dip where the Naga sadhus also took dip.