(REOPENS DEL63)

Long treks necessitated by restrictions on vehicular traffic and elaborate security arrangements notwithstanding, the flow of devotees kept increasing till around noon. It, however, slowed down considerably after intermittent showers in the area. As the 'Shahi Snan' came to a close by evening, the administration stepped up vigil around seven bus terminals and half-a-dozen railway stations in the city and on its outskirts, most importantly at the Allahabad Junction where the February 10 stampede had taken place. Officially, the Kumbh Mela will end only on Mahashivratri (March 10) though the congregation is known to lose much of its razzmatazz after Basant Panchami with all the 13 akharas having already planned their departure and other religious leaders following suit. After the departure of the akharas, the Kumbh Mela is left with only the 'Kalpavas' pilgrims, who quietly observe austerities like having only one meal a day, taking dip in the Ganga at the crack of dawn and sleeping on the ground. The Kalpavaas, which had begun on Paush Poornima (January 27), will come to an end on Magh Poornima (February 25).