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Two pilgrims were killed in a stampede near the Brahmakund hot water spring in Rajgir in Bihar's Nalanda district today. Twelve others were reportedly injured in the incident. According to television reports, the stampede broke out after the pilgrims pushed each other in order to get to the holy Brahmakund first to take a bath during the ongoing Malmas Festival at Rajgir. The traditional Hindu calendar considers the Lunar Months. The Lunar month days are shorter than the solar month day. So while a solar calendar has 365 days a lunar calendar has 350 days. The extra 15 days of a lunar calendar, add on to make an extra month in lunar calendar, every three years. This extra month is known as Adhikmas , Malmas or Purushottammas. Malmas means an impure month of a lunar year wherein Hindus refrain from beginning anything new and significant. The reason behind this is that there is no Sun transition during this month and so this belief. Scholars of ancient Indian astrology believe this month to be inauspicious. Malmas is also known as Kharmas and is considered really important in places like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar , Jharkhand and in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Further details are awaited.

Two pilgrims killed in Malmas festival stampede in Bihar