Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 (IANS): More than five lakh devotees Sunday took a holy dip in Odisha's temple town Konark and offered prayers to the sun god on the occasion of Magha Saptami.
The bathing began as early as 3 a.m. Police officer S.N. Saha told IANS that there were as many as five lakh people, including women and children.
According to legend, Shamba, son of Hindu god Krishna, was cured of leprosy after a holy dip in Chandrabhaga river on the seventh day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Magha.
Although the river no longer exists, devotees bathe in a large pond at the site, near the Bay of Bengal, and worship the sun god. Konark is about 65 km from Bhubaneswar.