Around 1.6 cr takes bath as biggest congregation Maha Kumbh begins

Prayagraj: Around 1.60 crore pilgrims took a holy dip at different ghats and Sangam with Prayagraj witnessing a breathtaking sight as lakhs of devotees gathered at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima on the first day of Maha Kumbh.

Marking the first Snan Parv (bathing festival) of Maha Kumbh, the event drew pilgrims from across the country. As per the official estimate around 1.60 crore pilgrims took a holy dip at different ghats and Sangam till 4 pm.

The devotion was palpable as devotees and Kalpavasis began arriving at the Sangam banks from midnight, filling the air with resonant chants of 'Har Har Gange' and 'Jai Shri Ram'.

Pilgrims of all ages, including children, the elderly and women, reached the ghats early in the morning, balancing their belongings on their heads, undeterred by the cold weather or the burden they carried.

Sangam Nose, Airavat Ghat and VIP Ghat were among the popular spots where devotees performed their holy baths. The youth, eager to capture the divine moment, clicked pictures and videos of the vibrant atmosphere and shared them widely on social media, further spreading the spiritual fervour of Maha Kumbh.

This time, there was remarkable enthusiasm among the youth for Sanatan culture and spirituality. People of all ages, from children to the elderly, actively participated in 'Sangam Snan and Daan' (charity). After taking the sacred dip, devotees performed puja and daan at the holy Sangam banks, seeking spiritual merit.

Following the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, unprecedented security arrangements were enforced across the fairgrounds. Every part of the venue is being closely monitored through the Integrated Command and Control Center, with the DIG and SSP personally overseeing the operations.

Additional police forces have been deployed to ensure smooth crowd management, remaining vigilant from midnight through the early morning hours.

Photos and videos of the grand bathing festival continue to go viral on social media, with devotees and the youth expressing pride in their rich cultural heritage. This holy bathing festival of Maha Kumbh turned into a memorable and spiritually uplifting experience for all.

The grand Maha Kumbh began with an overwhelming display of faith, devotion and spiritual unity, creating a spectacle reminiscent of the spiritual grandeur witnessed once in 144 years.

The massive congregation, marked by unwavering faith, deep devotion, joy and emotional fervor, transformed the sacred event into a global confluence of spirituality and human connection.

A sea of devotees from across the country and the world gathered not just for chanting, meditation and spiritual fulfilment, but also to experience the unparalleled cultural heritage of Maha Kumbh. The overwhelming gathering at permanent and temporary ghats, including Sangam Nose in the holy city of Prayagraj, bore witness to this extraordinary event.

Many devotees were seen with teary eyes, overwhelmed by the divine atmosphere, as they immersed themselves in prayers, rituals and the spirit of unity. These devotees were satisfied with the arrangements made by the Yogi government for the successful and divine execution of this historic event.

Two days before the official bathing day, lakhs of devotees had already begun taking holy dips, indicating that the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh might surpass the Uttar Pradesh government's crowd projections. The massive turnout in the initial days suggests that this year’s congregation will be larger than ever before.

On Paush Purnima, Kalpvasis, known for their intense spiritual discipline, took a holy dip in the 'Mokshadayini' Sangam, beginning their 45-day-long spiritual retreat. Kalpvasis observe strict vows of celibacy, minimalist living and regular prayers during the Maha Kumbh period. They pray not only for their personal spiritual elevation but also for the welfare of humanity.

This year, the coincidence of Paush Purnima falling on a Monday, an auspicious day for the worship of Mahadev, made the occasion even more spiritually significant. Pilgrims from various states like Bihar, Haryana, Bengal, Odisha, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh were seen participating in large numbers.

The splendor of Maha Kumbh has captivated not only Indian devotees but also visitors from across the world. At Sangam Ghat, a stream of international pilgrims and spiritual seekers joined the festivities.

Several YouTubers from South Korea were seen capturing the heavenly experience on their cameras, while tourists from Japan engaged with local guides to understand the cultural and spiritual significance of the event.

On Monday, Sanatani devotees from various countries of Europe including Russia-America witnessed this great festival of faith and unity and also took a holy dip. Among the many international visitors was Christina from Spain, who expressed her heartfelt admiration for the grandeur of Maha Kumbh, calling it a 'once-in-a-lifetime experience'.

The vibrant energy of Maha Kumbh extended to the market areas near Sangam Mela and the Lete Hanuman Temple. Sellers of puja materials and tilak artists were seen busy attending to the swelling crowd of devotees. Retail vendors selling prasad, chunri and diya materials mentioned that the influx of pilgrims this year has surpassed even the 2019 Kumbh Mela.