Maha Kumbh’s third ‘Amrit Snan’ begins, 5 crore pilgrims expected

Chief Minister Adityanath monitoring situation of Maha Kumbh's third 'Amrit Snan' since 3.30 am

Mahakumbh Nagar: The Maha Kumbh witnessed its third grand Amrit Snan’ on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees from across the globe, all seeking spiritual liberation through the sacred dip, which was going on smoothly, officials said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been personally monitoring the situation since 3.30 am from Lucknow, according to officials. At the break of dawn, sadhus, including the ash-smeared Nagas from various akharas, began their ceremonial journey towards the Triveni Sangam.

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By 6 am, the first of the akharas had completed their bath while the process was going on smoothly for others, including the Juna Akhara, whose Nagas are a major attraction of the event, officials said. Visuals showed that rose petals were showered in the area using a helicopter.

As for the ordinary pilgrims, by 4 am, 16.58 lakh devotees had taken the holy dip, with the overall figure of those who took the dip since January 13 reaching 34.97 crore, Information Director Shishir said, adding the figure included 10 lakh kalpvasis and 6.58 pilgrims.

The Basant Panchami holy bathing ritual assumes significance in the wake of the stampede during the previous Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya (Jan 29) which resulted in at least 30 deaths and left 60 others injured.

The Uttar Pradesh government expects a footfall of around five crore pilgrims on Monday alone. Unlike the Mauni Amavasya dip on January 29 when crowd pressure built up at Sangam Nose, this time due to efforts of the local administration and police, as well as self-awareness, many devotees were seen taking bath at different ghats.

Ahead of the ‘Amrit Snan‘, Juna Akhara Peethadhishwar Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj said, “On this festival of Basant Panchami, we are going for the ‘Amrit Snan’. The entire world is looking at India, the entire world is looking at our social harmony, spiritual values.”