Kumbh -- and the show goes on

If day one was for ascetics from akharas and those who braved the surging crowds, day two of the Kumbh Mela on Wednesday was for the many lakhs, including tourists, who lined up along the Sangam for a purifying dip.

The pull of the waters was as strong on Wednesday, the second day of the largest religious festival on earth, with officials estimating that more than one crore people took a plunge in the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

Tuesday was Makar Sankranti, one of the sacred bathing days of the 50-day fair. But 'shahi snan' or no 'shahi snan', there was no discernible dip in the number of people.

It is called "the greatest show on earth" for a reason, said one visitor.

"To be very honest, we were not expecting the crowds to be smaller. Also, most of the roads were open for visitors today. And then it is just the second day. We expect the same throughout the 50-day mela, not just for the 'shahi snan'," said a police officer who didn't want to