Haridwar, May 5 : Millions of Hindus took a holy dip in the River Ganges here on Monday, on the occasion of "Somvati Amavasya", an important Hindu festival.

Worshippers began converging along the banks of the Ganges at Sunday midnight.

"People get rid of their sins by taking a dip on Somvati Amavasya day. This dip ensures that our ancestors rest in peace," claimed Shyamlal Mishra, a priest.

Though "Amavasya" occurs every month, Hindus believe it to be the most auspicious when it falls on a Monday.

"We take a dip on this day. Married women pray to a peepal tree (fig tree) for the longevity of their husbands," said Rukmini Pandey, a devotee.

Haridwar, which is located at foothills of the Himalayas, is considered holy by the Hindus as the Ganges touches the plains here.

The large congregation of people is a nightmare for security personnel. The last Amavasya that fell on a Monday was in 1996. Then several people lost their lives in a stampede. (ANI)