MAHAKUMBH NAGAR (UP), Jan 15: Despite the biting cold, thousands of devotees gathered with boundless energy and enthusiasm at the Triveni Sangam to take a holy dip during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela.
The air was filled with chants of “Har Har Mahadev”, “Jai Shri Ram”, and “Jai Ganga Maiyya” as people immersed themselves in the chilling waters of the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “It was my first time at the Sangam. After taking the dip, I felt truly refreshed,” said Nibar Chaudhary, a 62-year-old from Uttar Pradesh’s Basti district, who was escorted by two companions to the holy site.
Shivram Verma, who accompanied Chaudhary, praised the well-organized arrangements made by the administration. “The experience was good, and the administration has taken proper steps to ensure devotees’ comfort,” he said.
Nancy, a first-time visitor from Lucknow, shared similar sentiments, saying, “My experience at the Maha Kumbh has been very positive so far.”
Abhishek, a resident of Fatehpur district, also expressed satisfaction, saying he faced no issues during the event.
Vijay Katheria from Kanpur appreciated the security measures. “The safety arrangements were commendable, and the police force was adequately deployed,” he said.
Though it was not a major bathing day, devotees continued to pour in from across the country and abroad to attend the Maha Kumbh, which is being held at the Sangam.
Mahesh Pasi, a resident of Kaushambi, came to the Sangam with his family after ‘Makar Sankranti’. “We initially planned to visit on Makar Sankranti, but the cold weather made us reconsider, especially for the children. We’ll come again on Basant Panchami if the weather improves,” he shared.
Mohit Kumar, from Sitapur, had planned to visit with his sisters but had to delay the trip due to his grandmother’s injury. “We hope to come again for Basant Panchami or ‘Maghi Purnima’,” he said.
Gonda resident Sushil Kashyap, who arrived late Tuesday night with his family, was fortunate enough to take the dip during sunrise. “Though we couldn’t offer our salutation to the Sun God due to cloudy skies, we performed the puja according to the timing mentioned in the ‘panchaang’,” he said.
On Tuesday, seers from various ‘akharas’ performed the first ‘Amrit Snan’ at the Maha Kumbh to mark ‘Makar Sankranti’. Around 3.5 crore devotees are estimated to have bathed in the Triveni Sangam on this auspicious day.
The Naga sadhus, leading most of the akharas, captivated the crowd with their mastery of traditional weapons like spears and swords. Their energetic performances, including playing the ‘damru’, added a colorful dimension to the event. Notably, female Naga ascetics also participated in significant numbers.
The current edition of the Kumbh is especially significant, as it is being held after 12 years, with celestial alignments occurring once in 144 years, making this year’s gathering even more auspicious. The event will continue until February 26.
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