Entry routes for kalpwasis marked ahead of Magh Mela

Prayagraj: With camps of prominent seers and saints coming up on mela campus, around 4 lakh kalpwasis are likely to observe kalpwas on the banks of Ganga during Magh Mela. Paush Purnima snan scheduled on Jan 3, first day of the mela.Elaborate arrangements have been made in Sectors 3, 4, 5 and 6 and majority of kalpwasis will observe kalpwas at camps of gurus or prominent seers and saints on the mela campus.SP (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey told TOI, "Majority of kalpwasis are expected to flock to the mela campus from Wednesday and most of them will be settled by Friday. Elaborate traffic arrangements were made for their hassle-free arrival from neighbouring districts and state."He added, "Mela police have appealed to kalpwasis to use only designated routes for smooth movement on mela grounds. After reaching their camps and unpacking, they should park vehicles only in the designated slot."Kalpwasis from Jaunpur will enter the campus via Old GT Road and Lower Sangam Road and those from Varanasi too will use the same route. Kalpwasis from Mirzapur, Chitrakoot and Rewa will enter via Leprosy Chowk, Bangar Chowk, GT Jawahar Chowk flyover, Shastri Bridge Jhunsi, and Katka intersection, and enter the mela area via Old GT Road and Lower Sangam Road.Besides, kalpwasis from Kanpur and Prayagraj City will route via GT Jawahar Chowk, past Daraganj Police Station, and enter the Jhunsi area via Pontoon Bridge No 5 and Lower Sangam Road to reach their respective kalpwasi area. Moreover, kalpwasis coming from Lucknow-Ayodhya-Pratapgarh districts and enter the mela area via Basna Nala bridge, Purana Phaphamau market, Rahimapur intersection, Tharwai-Sahson-Andawa road, then enter via AJ Road, Old GT Road and Lower Sangam Road.Kalpwasis from Lucknow-Ayodhya-Pratapgarh can opt for another route via Chandrashekhar Azad Bridge, Mehandauri Police Post, Riverfront Road, and then cross Pontoon Bridge No 5. They can also take another route via Mazar intersection, IERT flyover, Riverfront Road, enter the mela area via Pontoon Bridge No 5, and enter the Jhunsi area. Kalpwasis who wish to stay in Magh Mela Sectors 1 and 2 can reach their camps via GT Jawahar and Harshvardhan Chowk and Kali Marg.National president of Akhil Bharatiya Dandi Sanyasi Parishad, Pithadheeshwar Swami Brahmashram Maharaj told TOI, kalpwasis from Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are likely to arrive on first bathing day. During kalpwas, devotees from 17 years to 70 years stay at Sangam following a spartan lifestyle and take ‘satvik' meals. Kalpwas will end with Maghi Purnima snan on Feb 1.Religious scholar Dr Amitabh Gour said, "Vedas mention ‘kalp' as period equal to number of years in four ‘yugas'—Satyug, Treta, Dwapar and Kalyug. It is believed that by observing ‘kalpwas', a devotee overcomes the sins of previous birth and escapes the cycle of ‘janma' (birth) and ‘mrityu' (death)." Gour added, "Everyday, a ‘kalpwasi' has to take a dip in Ganga at sunrise and pray to the rising sun. Most ‘kalpwasis' take only 1 meal a day. After 12 ‘kalpwas'days, ‘kalpwasi' has to donate bed and all belongings as ‘shayya daan'. Leading minimalistic life on the banks of the Ganga has positive impact on mental and physical health."