Naga Sadhus (Hindu holy men) take a holy dip in the waters of the Ganges River
HARIDWAR/NEW DELHI/PRAYAGRAJ: Hours after PM Narendra Modi appealed to its chief Avadheshanand Giri to wind up the rest of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, Juna akhada — the largest of the 13 sects of seers in the country — pulled out of the religious festival.
Juna is the third akhada, after Niranjani and Anand, to withdraw from the event, scheduled to continue till April 30, citing concerns about Covid-19, and its decision was quickly followed by pullout calls by two other fellow Shaivite akhadas — Avahan and Agni.