The auspicious occasion of Rama Navami was celebrated with great zeal in the holy city of Haridwar. Lakhs of devotees took a dip in the Ganga on the 9th festive bath of Ardh Kumbh here.
Devotees since wee hours thronged the sanctum-sanctorum of Brahmakund, Har-ki-Pauri, and adjacent Ganga ghats such as Malviya, Kushawrat, Birla, Alaknanda, Maharishi Kashyap, Luv Kush, Swami Vivekanand, Shri Vishwakarma ghat, Gobind ghat and Prem Nagar ashram ghat.
Ardh Kumbh Mela officer MS Negi said about five lakh pilgrims arrived in the city to take a dip in the Ganga. Meanwhile, special prayers for Lord Rama were performed at Maa Raj Rajeshwari temple, Vivek Vihar. Acharya Yogi Raj Shastri performed rituals with a special aarti in the noon.
Swami Ramdev celebrated his ‘Sanyas divas’ at Patanjali Yogpeeth. Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij spoke on obesity at a health programme organised here.