Maha Shivratri 2021: First Shahi Snan of Mahakumbh held in Haridwar

Thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva bathed at Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri bathing ghat on Maha Shivaratri on Thursday (March 11). 

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The seers from seven prominent Hindu 'akahras' took a holy dip in the Ganga at Har Ki Paudi in Haridwar Kumbh Mela on the occasion of Maha Shivratri on March 11.  

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The devotees were showered with flower petals who gathered at Haridwar Mahakumbh for Shahi Snan on Maha Shivratri. This is the first time that the pilgrims were showered with flowers from a helicopter on the  instructions of Uttarakhand CM. 

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Uttarakhand's new Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat welcomed the pilgrims by showering flowers on them as they took the holy dip in Ganga's Brahmkund in Haridwar. 

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Uttarakhand's new Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat who was present at the Kumbh Mela on the day of Shahi Snan told PTI, "I have come here to greet the saints. The seers appear to be happy that they have been showered with flower petals. It has happened for the first time here." 

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CM Rawat urged people to follow all the anti-Covid guidelines like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing while participating in the Shahi Snan. 

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Hermits took a holy dip in the waters of River Ganga to mark Maha Shivratri during the ongoing religious Kumbh Mela, in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. 

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To ensure safety at the first Shahi Snan, around 5000 security personnel, hundreds of CCTVs and drones were reportedly deployed by the Haridwar Kumbh Mela administration for surveillance.

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 As per the Kumbh Mela 2021 schedule, 4 shahi snans and 9 Ganga snans will take place at Haridwar in 2021. The Kumbh Mela 2021 had begun on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti on January 15. 

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