Garhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 23 Jan: Haridwar witnessed a massive influx of devotees on the occasion of Basant Panchami today. Basant Panchmi is a festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati. Since it is considered to be auspicious to bathe in River Ganga on this occasion, a huge crowd of devotees was seen coming from various parts of the country to Har Ki Pauri and other ghats in Haridwar and Rishikesh, where pilgrims took dips of faith followed by acts of charity to accrue punyas. The Police and administration had made elaborate arrangements to ensure robust security and seamless crowd management amid the heavy rush.
From the early hours of dawn this morning the devotees thronged Brahmakund at Har Ki Pauri and various Ganga ghats. Pilgrims from across the country performed ritualistic baths in the Ganga, offered prayers to the Sun God, and filled the riverbanks with resounding chants of “Har Har Gange”. In keeping with Basant Panchami traditions, a striking number of devotees donned yellow attire, symbolising the spring season, across the ghats.
The religious beliefs hold a holy dip in the Ganges on this day to purify the mind and dispel negative energy. Scriptures deem the acts of bathing, donating, and worshipping on Basant Panchami exceptionally meritorious. The confluence of faith, tradition, and devotion enveloped Har Ki Pauri in a profound spiritual aura. The fifth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Magh marks Vasant Panchami, heralding the seasonal transition to spring.
Anticipation of the festival saw arrivals begin the previous day, with an atmosphere of deep devotion prevailing across all Ganga ghats from 4 a.m. Families journeying from afar converged on the banks for the sacred immersion. Meanwhile, police completed all preparations, fortifying security arrangements at the ghats to remain airtight.
