Allahabad: Braving the early morning winter chill and fog, lakhs of people converged at the Gaga bathing ghats for the sacred bath on Mauni Amavasya today (Jan 19, 2007), even as the Mahanirvani akhara along with Atal set out in a majestic procession for the second 'shahi snan' of Ardh Kumbh here.

Since a couple of early morning hours were considered to be the most auspicious there was a heavy rush of people even before daybreak.

This is the only day when both the sun and the moon are in the Tropic of Capricorn, a rare configuration, when observing silence and taking a holy dip is believed to let one attain salvation. Popular belief is that water everywhere on this day becomes holy.

In view of such a large turnout of people expected today on the occasion of the extended Makar Sankranti on January 14 and January 15 and the second 'Shahi Snan' (grand bath) on this day there was tight security in place for protection of the procession routes of akharas and to regulate crowd movement.

About 1.5 crore people have taken bath on Makar Sankranti days.