Ahead of the highly anticipated Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami, Uttar Pradesh officials are focused on ensuring a smooth and error-free event at the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. With over 33.61 crore devotees already participating since January 13, the authorities are leaving nothing to chance after the tragic stampede on Mauni Amavasya, which claimed at least 30 lives and injured more than 60.
The final Amrit Snan will take place on Monday, February 3, coinciding with the auspicious Basant Panchami. Following the stampede, which occurred due to overcrowding at Sangam Nose on January 29, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued strict directives to officials for meticulous planning and zero-tolerance for errors.
Steps Taken by UP Government
To prevent further tragedies, the Uttar Pradesh government has enlisted two senior IAS officers, Ashish Goyal and Bhanu Chandra Goswami, both veterans in crowd management and event coordination. They played key roles during the 2019 Ardh Kumbh, making them crucial to ensuring smooth operations this time around. Along with Mela Adhikari Vijay Kiran Anand, they are overseeing the massive logistics and crowd control efforts at the event.
ADG Bhanu Bhaskar, who is in charge of crowd control, has been actively involved in managing the flow of devotees. On Sunday, he visited the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) to monitor the fairground and key entry points via live surveillance. Bhaskar issued instructions to ensure smooth movement at the ghats and to prevent overcrowding. He has asked devotees to vacate the ghats promptly after completing their rituals and directed police officers to help maintain order throughout the event.
Further efforts are underway to ensure the safety of devotees. Security measures have been ramped up across the fair area, and Goswami and Goyal are assisting in advising authorities based on their extensive past experiences. During their visit, they reviewed crowd control strategies to minimize the risk of accidents.
The Spiritual Importance of Amrit Snan
The Amrit Snan, which holds immense spiritual significance, is one of the key rituals of the Maha Kumbh Mela. Millions of pilgrims gather at the Triveni Sangam to take a sacred dip in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati. People believe that this act purifies one’s sins and brings them closer to salvation or ‘moksha’. The event ties to the celestial alignments of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter, which amplify the spiritual energy of the rivers during the ritual.
On Basant Panchami, the next Amrit Snan will take place, marking the third major bathing day of the festival. The first two occurred on Makar Sankranti (January 14) and Mauni Amavasya (January 29). As per the Hindu calendar, Basant Panchami, falling on Magh Shukla Panchami, heralds the arrival of spring.
Key Dates at the Maha Kumbh
Apart from the Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami, the Maha Kumbh will observe other significant bathing days. Devotees observed Paush Purnima, the first bathing day, on January 13, and they will observe Maghi Purnima on February 12. The festival will conclude with Mahashivratri on February 26, marking the final Amrit Snan of the once-in-12-years event.
With strict planning and an experienced team in place, the Uttar Pradesh government aims to make the Maha Kumbh 2025 a safe and spiritually enriching experience for millions of devotees from across the world.
