Haridwar, June 6 -- A large number of devotees gathered at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar on Friday to take a holy dip in the Ganga River on the occasion of Nirjala Ekadashi, considered one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar.

Pilgrims from across the country reached the banks of the Ganga to take part in the royal bath and offer prayers to Ganga Mata. The event came a day after the celebration of Ganga Dussehra, leading to heavy footfall on both days as devotees offered prayers, performed bathing rituals, and chanted religious hymns.

A devotee, Vipul Sharma, said, "It is the eleventh of Ekadashi, and its bath is a royal bath. You can see how many faiths people are associated with this thing, such as our religion, Hinduism or Sanata...