The Maha Kumbh witnessed its third grand ‘Amrit Snan’ on Basant Panchami, drawing millions of devotees from around the world seeking spiritual liberation through the sacred bath.
Amidst the holy celebrations, international devotees were seen chanting the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ as they made their way to the Triveni Sangam for the auspicious ritual.
By 4 AM, around 16.58 lakh devotees had taken the holy dip, bringing the total number of bathers since January 13 to a staggering 34.97 crore. This count includes 10 lakh kalpvasis and 6.58 lakh pilgrims, according to Information Director Shishir, as reported by ANI.
Local Holiday Declared in Prayagraj
To manage the massive influx of devotees, the Prayagraj District Magistrate declared a local holiday for government offices on Monday. The decision was made to ensure law and order as millions of pilgrims from across India and abroad arrived for the sacred bathing ritual.
The official order highlighted the need for a local holiday on main bathing days to manage crowds and maintain peace at the Triveni Sangam during the Maha Kumbh.
Extensive Arrangements for Maha Kumbh
The Uttar Pradesh government has implemented extensive arrangements to ensure the smooth and safe movement of pilgrims, earning praise from devotees for the well-managed event.
This comes in the wake of the tragic stampede-like situation at the Mahakumbh on January 29, which claimed at least 30 lives and left 60 others injured. So far, 25 victims have been identified.
The incident occurred as millions gathered at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers for a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, which coincided with the Second Shahi Snan.