Dates announced for 10 ritual baths during Ardhkumbh

ROORKEE: There will be 10 ritual baths during the three-month Ardhkumbh mela beginning in Haridwar next month.

Commencing in January, a total of 10 baths will take place on different auspicious dates over the three month period which sees a huge crowd gathering on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar to take a holy dip in the river, Shree Ganga Sabha general secretary Ramkumar Mishra said.

According to the programme announced by the Vidwat Parishad of the Sabha, the first bath will take place on the occasion of makar sankranti on January 14, the second on Somvati Amavasya on February 8, the third on Basant Panchami on February 12, the fourth on Magh Purnima on February 22, the fifth on Mahashivratri on March 7.

The sixth on Chaitra Amavasya on April 7, the seventh on Chaitra shukla Pratipada Nav Samvatsar on April 8, the eighth and main bath will take place on April 14, the ninth on Ram Navami on April 15 and the 10th on Chaitra Purnima on April 22.