Maha Kumbh begins with Shahi Snan

The mega event marks the confluence of three rivers -- Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati. According to Hindu Vedic Panchang, the Paush Purnima began on Monday at 5:01 am and will go on till 3.57 pm on Tuesday

Hyderabad: Maha Kumbh, one of the largest religious gatherings of devotees in the world, started on Monday with the holy bath in the sacred waters of the Sangham Ghat in Prayagraj. The mega event marks the confluence of three rivers — Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati.

According to Hindu Vedic Panchang, the Paush Purnima began on Monday at 5:01 am and will go on till 3.57 pm on Tuesday. Devotees can take the ‘Rajyogi Snan’ (Shahi Snan) throughout the day. A 12-km ghat has been made for the devotees to take a dip.

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According to legends, Lord Vishnu was carrying a Kumbh (pot) of amrit (nectar), when a scuffle broke out and four drops were spilled. They fell to earth at the four Tirthas of Prayag, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.

A tirtha is a place where the devout can attain salvation. The event is commemorated every three years by the Kumbh Mela, held at each tirtha in turn; the Sangam is known as Tirtharaj, the ‘King of Tirthas’ and here the Kumbh is held once in every 12 years, which is the greatest and holiest of all.

The present edition of the Kumbh is being held after 12 years, though seers claim the celestial permutations and combinations for the event are taking place after 144 years, making the occasion even more auspicious.

Around 35 crore devotees are expected to visit Prayagraj this time. Already a record 25 lakh people took the holy dip on Saturday.

Starting today, visitors can also enjoy a special helicopter ride, priced at Rs 1,296, for an aerial view of the Kumbh. All 13 Akharas have also arrived at the site with their grand processions.

“Spanning 10,000 acres, the event will set an exemplary standard for cleanliness, security, and modernity. To enhance the convenience of devotees, a digital tourist map will facilitate monitoring the cleanliness of toilets, while an AI-powered security system integrated with smartphones will ensure safety,” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said.

The Indian Railways is operating 10,000 regular trains, 3,134 special trains – 4.5 times more than previous Kumbh – and 1,869 short distamnce trains during the Kumbh period. A total of 1,176 CCTV cameras have been installed at nine stations in the Prayagraj region to provide live feeds for real-time monitoring.

Speaking about the significance of ‘Paush Purnima’, Ashutosh Varshney, the convenor of Prayagraj-based NGO Ram Naam Bank, said the occasion occurs on the 15th day of ‘Shukla Paksh’ in the Hindu calendar month of ‘Paush’. It also marks the initiation of ‘Kalpvasa’, a period of intense spiritual practice and devotion observed by pilgrims during the Maha Kumbh Mela, he added.

The holy city of Prayagraj is now welcoming saints, seers, pilgrims, devotees and citizens from different walks of life. Nearly 50 lakh devotees took a dip at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers in Mahakumbh Nagar on Sunday, a day ahead of the ‘Paush Purnima’, the authorities said.

Earlier on Saturday, 33 lakh devotees visited the Mela to bathe in the Sangam, Director Information Shishir said, adding over 85 lakh people had bathed in the river in the past two days.