Godavari, January 15

As many as five lakh devotees visited on the first day of Godavari Amrit Mahasnan Dibya Sahasrha Kumbha Darshan Mela on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti today.

A large number of people from Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Dadeldhura and even from India arrived in Godavari of Kailali district from early morning to worship and participate in the festival.

Thousands of devotees along the Kailali-Attariya road section were queuing to reach the site, affecting traffic in the six-kilometre long route.

As there was excessive flow of visitors, the elderly devotees were seen returning home without participating in the fair.

In the fair, Jagatguru Swami Omkarananda Swarswoti of India’s Pryagpith visited the festival and offered holy water to the devotees today morning.

The Godavari Amrit Mahasnan Dibya Sahasrha Kumbha Darshan Mela will continue for a month.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari had inaugurated the event yesterday.