Kartik Purnima: Thousands to take dip in Ganga today in Begusarai

BEGUSARAI/CHHAPRA: Thousands of devotees are expected to take a dip in the Ganga at Simariya Dham in Begusarai on the occasion of Kartik Purnima on Friday. Consequently, the district administration has made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the devotees are safe and have a spiritually fulfilling experience.
Begusarai Sadar SDO Ramanuj Singh told this newspaper on Thursday that barricades had been put up at various points and an elaborate traffic plan prepared to control the movement of vehicles.“A large number of police personnel, teams of the State Disaster Response Force and local divers will be deployed at the ghats to ensure the safety of the devotees,” he added.
Chidtatmin ji Maharaj, the chief priest of Siddhashram, pointed out that thousands of devotees from Mithila region, Bhutan and Nepal visited Simariya and took a dip in the Ganga to get rid of their sins.
Kalyanesh Agrawal, a local businessman, echoed similar views, saying, “People consider it auspicious to take a dip in the Ganga on Kartik Purnima.”
Meanwhile, the Saran district administration has also taken steps to avoid any mishap on Kartik Purnima on Friday.
Earlier, DM Rajesh Meena and SP Santosh Kumar had reviewed the arrangements made for the devotees who will take a dip at Konhara Ghat, the confluence of the Ganga and the Gandak in Saran district. They had directed the officials concerned to stop the movement of traffic on the Old Gandak Bridge from 12pm on Friday.
Several small traders from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other places have also put up makeshift stalls near the ghats to sell woollen garments, furniture and food items to devotees on Kartik Purnima.
Meanwhile, the North Eastern Railway has introduced four pairs of special trains to cope with the rush of passengers on Friday. According to Ashok Kumar, the public relations officer of Varanasi division, these trains will originate from Chhapra, Ballia, Mau and Aurihar stations.