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.