The main bathing ghat of 'Har Ki Pauri' wore an almost deserted look during the morning hours and witnessed activity only after noon when the sun's rays cut through the fog blanket.
Bone-chilling cold wave coupled with heavy fog today played a dampener at the Maha Kumbh here with only a few thousand devotees taking the holy bath on the occasion of Basant Panchami, the third auspicious day in the three-month-long holy congregation.
The main bathing ghat of 'Har Ki Pauri' wore an almost deserted look during the morning hours and witnessed activity only after noon when the sun's rays cut through the fog blanket.
Even the kite enthusiasts who confined themselves to their houses initially came out only after the chilly wind subsided. The scene after that was of a blue clear sky alive with multi-coloured kites -- huge and small.
The 'ghats' were almost empty early morning with security personnel seen more in number than the devotees.
Basant Panchmi marks the beginning of spring and is also a day dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning. The day is celebrated by taking a dip in rivers and flying kites.
The Kumbh mela administration, which had expected a much bigger turnout especially those from states having agriculture as their mainstay, and nearby areas, attributed the turnout to the cold snap.
Presenting a contrasting picture from other times when lakhs of devotees flocked the ghats here for the holy dip on the first day of the Kumbh on January 14 and the next day which coincided with the solar eclipse on January 15, the majority people seen at the 'Hari Ki Pauri' were securitymen.
The other key dates for the baths, which people believe wash away their sins, are January 30 (Magh Purnima), February 12 (Maha Shivaratri), March 15 (Somvati Amavasya), March 16 (Nvasamvatsar), March 24 (Rama Navami), March 30 (Chaitra Purnima), April 14 (Mesh Sankranti) and April 28 (Baishakh Adimasaha Purnima).
According to the organisers, February 12 will be a significant day in the Kumbh as Naga sadhus, who smear their bodies with ash, will lead the Hindu 'akharas' (religious orders) in taking a dip. In the previous Kumbhs, pilgrims have been allowed to take their dip only after Naga sadhus, who are Shiva devotees, are through with the rituals.
Undaunted by the chill, over 10 lakh devotees had taken a holy dip on January 14 in the freezing waters of the Ganga here heralding the start of the Maha Kumbh, the world's largest religious congregation that takes place once in 12 years here.
On January 15 also, lakhs of devotees had taken their dip after the solar eclipse which coincided with 'Mauni Amavasya' after a gap of 565 years, making it a particularly auspicious occasion.
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