Chandigarh, Jan 14 (NationPress) Despite the chilly weather, thousands of devotees gathered at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and various gurudwaras throughout Punjab to pay their respects and take a holy dip in the 'sarovar' in observance of Maghi or Makar Sankranti on Tuesday.

Makar Sankranti, a prominent harvest festival celebrated in different regions of India, also signifies the commencement of warmer and longer days.

Devotees at the Golden Temple began arriving well before dawn, with some opting to spend the night at the temple to partake in the holy dip at first light.

“January 14 marks the beginning of the traditional Punjabi month of Maghi, and devotees feel fortunate to commence it by taking a dip in the sacred sarovar,” a temple priest shared with IANS.

Langars (community kitchens) were organized to celebrate the occasion. While Maghi is especially vibrant in Muktsar district, many also deem the holy dip at the Golden Temple sarovar to hold great significance.

In Muktsar, people gather to honor the sacrifice of the 40 Sikhs ('chalis mukte') who had once left the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, at Anandpur Sahib, but later returned and perished fighting the Mughals in 1705.

Sikhs pilgrimage to the battlefield and take a dip in the sacred water tanks of Muktsar town.

An annual fair, the Maghi Mela, is held at Muktsar Sahib to commemorate the 40 Sikh martyrs. Activists of two radical leaders—Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, currently imprisoned in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA), and former MP Simranjit Singh Mann—have declared plans for concurrent rallies in Muktsar to celebrate Maghi.

Activists supporting jailed MP Amritpal Singh may announce a new political party, potentially named Shiromani Akali Dal (Anandpur Sahib), during the rally.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will also host its convention in Muktsar amidst a “leadership crisis” following indictments against former president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other leaders by the Akal Takht for religious “misconduct” during their governance from 2007-17, including the pardon of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case.

In anticipation of Mela Maghi, Muktsar Sahib Police have enhanced measures to ensure public safety and uphold law and order, employing drone cameras for close monitoring.

The police have established assistance centers in various areas of the city to aid devotees attending Mela Maghi. These centers will allow attendees to report lost items, missing children, or any suspicious activities.