On the occasion of Basant Panchami today a large number of devotees are taking a holy dip at Sangam in Allahabad and offering their obeisance to goddess Saraswati.

Pilgrims have been reaching Sangam and many other Ghats of the Ganga for holy bathing.

In Varanasi and Ayodhya also people are having bath in holy rivers. Many cultural programmes are being organised in Magh Mela on this occasion.

Saraswati Puja is being held in many public places and temples with traditional fervour and gaiety.

The 116th birth anniversary of the great Hindi poet Suryakant Tripathi Nirala is also being celebrated today. Seminars and special poetry sessions are being organised in different places of the state to mark the day.