On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj to take the first “Amrit Snan” (holy bath), formerly known as Shahi Snan. This ritual, conducted in the freezing waters of the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, is believed to absolve sins and offer salvation from the cycle of life and death.
The holy bath marks the beginning of the 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela, a significant religious gathering held every 12 years. This year, it is expected to draw over 400 million devotees. Devotees took the dip under the guidance of saints from early morning, with chants of “Har Har Mahadev,” “Jai Shri Ram,” and “Jai Ganga Maiyya” filling the air.
The first devotees to bathe were members of the Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani and Shri Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated the pilgrims, calling the ritual a living embodiment of India’s eternal culture and faith. He also mentioned that nearly 17.5 million devotees had taken part in the first holy dip, with more arriving in the Brahma Muhurat on Tuesday.
The Maha Kumbh began on Monday, with 16.5 million devotees taking a dip amid thick fog and freezing water. Security for the event is tight, with over 50,000 personnel and drones deployed to manage the crowd. The month-long Kalpvas spiritual retreat also commenced, with over 2.5 million devotees beginning their meditation and worship practices along the Ganga.
With a massive temporary city spanning over 4,000 hectares, this year’s Maha Kumbh has set up around 150,000 tents, 3,000 kitchens, and 145,000 restrooms to accommodate the millions of visitors. Additionally, Indian Railways has arranged for extra trains to transport devotees to Prayagraj. The event is expected to be the world’s largest single gathering.
