UJJAIN (MP), Apr 22: Braving scorching heat, a multitude of sadhus along with their disciples chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ took ‘shahi snan’ (royal bath) at Ramghat in Shipra river here this noon on the opening day of the month-long Simhastha-Kumbh mela. People drawn from different parts of the country and abroad are taking part in the Kumbh mela, one of the largest congre- gations of Hindus, which for the first time is witnessing the par- ticipation of the transgenders, who have put up an Akhara (temporary monastery) and announced to take a holy dip at the Gandharav Ghat of Shipra on May 9. “I am overwhelmed to be part of this awesome human gathering. I came here since yesterday,” George Sauuahq, a Frenchman said. He said that he has come to India with a group of 12 persons from Paris. “We made a point to stand witness to this mega event after coming to know about it,” he said as he scrambled to shoot photos of the sadhus in different hues and attires at Ramghat. Wheelchair-bound Tervani Devi (76) and her husband Durga Prasad (82) came to Shipra, that has been revived by pumping in the Narmada water, for the occa- sion, to take a holy dip, all the way from Hyderabad. Tervani said that she was delighted after taking the royal bath. Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh also took a bath at Gaughat on the opening day of the Simhastha. At around 8.15 AM a stam- pede like situation was wit- nessed at Chhoti Pool area at the entrance of Ramghat when large number of seers in processions descended for the royal bath. However, the situation was brought under control by the authorities swiftly. Bada Udasin Akhara Pontiff Raghu Muni Maharaj along with others squatted at Ramghat for a while and protested against the vehicular traffic in the mela area. He said that the vehicular traffic was obstructing seers’ way to the ghat. However, he lifted his protest after govern- ment officials intervene. Earlier, the Kumbh mela kicked off with Naga Sadhu of Juna Akhara venturing into the river around 5 AM. Their head, Avdheshnandji Maharaj, who came in a huge procession took the ‘shahi snan’ amid tight security arrangements. “As of now, all things are going on smoothly. Around 25,000 security personnel including central forces have been deployed to conduct the ‘shahi snan’,” Inspector General of Police, Ujjain, Madhu Kumar said at Ramghat at noon. Meanwhile, lakhs of people thronged the roads leading to the ghats of Shipra river and waiting in serpentine queues to take the royal bath during the Mela which is being held here after a gap of 12 years. Ujjain is also the abode of Lord Mahakaleshwar, one of the 12 ‘jyotirlings’ in the country. “Over five crore pilgrims are expected to visit Ujjain and other holy places during the Kumbh, for which elaborate security and logistical arrangements have been made,” Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said last evening on the eve of the mela at Bhopal. (PTI) SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 (PAGE 20) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Scores of seers descend on Ujjain to take royal bath at Kumbh PM to launch Rs 8K cr scheme for free LPG connections to poor NEW DELHI, Apr 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on May 1 launch an ambitious Rs 8,000 crore scheme to provide 5 crore free LPG connections to BPL fami- lies using the money saved from 1.13 crore cooking gas users voluntarily giving up their subsidies. Modi will launch the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh on May 1 and do a repeat function at Dahod in Gujarat on May 15. Though ‘Give-it-Up’ cam- paign seeking the well-heeled to voluntarily surrender cooking gas subsidies for one year was launched in January, 2015, Modi on March 27 last year officially launched the pro- gramme.(PTI)

SATURDAY, APRIL23, 2016 (PAGE 20) DAILYEXCELSIOR, JAMMU ...epaper.dailyexcelsior.com/epaperpdf/2016/apr/16apr23/page20.pdfUJJAIN (MP), Apr 22: Braving scorching heat, a multitude of

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UJJAIN (MP), Apr 22:

Braving scorching heat, amultitude of sadhus along withtheir disciples chanting ‘Jai ShriRam’ took ‘shahi snan’ (royalbath) at Ramghat in Shipra riverhere this noon on the opening

day of the month-longSimhastha-Kumbh mela.

People drawn from differentparts of the country and abroadare taking part in the Kumbhmela, one of the largest congre-gations of Hindus, which for thefirst time is witnessing the par-

ticipation of the transgenders,who have put up an Akhara(temporary monastery) andannounced to take a holy dip atthe Gandharav Ghat of Shipraon May 9.

“I am overwhelmed to bepart of this awesome humangathering. I came here sinceyesterday,” George Sauuahq, aFrenchman said.

He said that he has come toIndia with a group of 12 personsfrom Paris.

“We made a point to standwitness to this mega event aftercoming to know about it,” hesaid as he scrambled to shootphotos of the sadhus in differenthues and attires at Ramghat.

Wheelchair-bound TervaniDevi (76) and her husband DurgaPrasad (82) came to Shipra, thathas been revived by pumping inthe Narmada water, for the occa-sion, to take a holy dip, all theway from Hyderabad.

Tervani said that she wasdelighted after taking the royalbath.

Congress General SecretaryDigvijay Singh also took a bathat Gaughat on the opening dayof the Simhastha.

At around 8.15 AM a stam-pede like situation was wit-nessed at Chhoti Pool area at theentrance of Ramghat when largenumber of seers in processionsdescended for the royal bath.

However, the situation wasbrought under control by theauthorities swiftly.

Bada Udasin Akhara PontiffRaghu Muni Maharaj along withothers squatted at Ramghat for awhile and protested against the

vehicular traffic in the mela area.He said that the vehicular

traffic was obstructing seers’way to the ghat. However, helifted his protest after govern-ment officials intervene.

Earlier, the Kumbh melakicked off with Naga Sadhu ofJuna Akhara venturing into theriver around 5 AM. Their head,Avdheshnandji Maharaj, whocame in a huge procession tookthe ‘shahi snan’ amid tight secu-rity arrangements.

“As of now, all things aregoing on smoothly. Around25,000 security personnelincluding central forces havebeen deployed to conduct the‘shahi snan’,” Inspector Generalof Police, Ujjain, Madhu Kumarsaid at Ramghat at noon.

Meanwhile, lakhs of peoplethronged the roads leading to theghats of Shipra river and waitingin serpentine queues to take theroyal bath during the Melawhich is being held here after agap of 12 years.

Ujjain is also the abode ofLord Mahakaleshwar, one of the12 ‘jyotirlings’ in the country.

“Over five crore pilgrims areexpected to visit Ujjain andother holy places during theKumbh, for which elaboratesecurity and logistical arrange-ments have been made,”Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan had saidlast evening on the eve of themela at Bhopal. (PTI)

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 (PAGE 20) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU

Scores of seers descend on Ujjain to take royal bath at Kumbh

PM to launch Rs 8K crscheme for free LPGconnections to poorNEW DELHI, Apr 22:

Prime Minister NarendraModi will on May 1 launch anambitious Rs 8,000 crorescheme to provide 5 crore freeLPG connections to BPL fami-lies using the money saved from1.13 crore cooking gas usersvoluntarily giving up their sub-sidies.

Modi will launch thePradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana at Ballia in UttarPradesh on May 1 and do arepeat function at Dahod inGujarat on May 15.

Though ‘Give-it-Up’ cam-paign seeking the well-heeled tovoluntarily surrender cookinggas subsidies for one year waslaunched in January, 2015,Modi on March 27 last yearofficially launched the pro-gramme.(PTI)