Around 70 lakh devotees took a dip in the River Ganga in Allahabad on Monday on the occasion of Paush Purnima - the second auspicious bathing day of the Kumbh Mela.

Since Sunday night the Sangam area was buzzing with activity as devotees started arriving even as security forces maintained a close watch on the movement of pilgrims and visitors at the mela venue. Even before the sunrise, devotees were seen coming out from the ghats after taking the dip braving intense cold weather

Officials repeatedly made announcements requesting devotees not to venture into deep waters and also keep an eye over suspicious elements in their vicinity and report it to the police

The full moon was at its splendid best over Sangam before the break of dawn and devotional songs greeted visitors in the area. Fog too was seen before the sunrise at various places in the Sangam area. However, it failed to dampen the mood of devotees, who turned up in large numbers for the Paush Purnima bath

As the day progressed, the number of devotees coming to take the holy dip increased. The Purnima or full moon day will also mark the beginning of Kalpwas (the period of austerity) at Kumbh Mela

Elaborating on the significance of Paush Purnima, Swami Adhokshanand said, "Paush Purnima is a significant day for Hindus which falls on the full moon day of Paush in the Hindu calendar. On this day, devotees from different parts of the country assemble at Sangam to take a holy dip."

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday had greeted people on the eve of Paush Purnima.

The mega Kumbh Mela, which began on January 15 and will continue till March 4, is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 1.2 lakh crore for Uttar Pradesh, says apex industry body Confederation of Indian Industry.