On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, more than 35 million devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to take a holy dip during the first ‘Amrit Snan’ of the Mahakumbh Mela. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed the remarkable turnout, sharing on X, “Today, on the first Amrit Snan festival, more than 3.50 crore revered saints and devotees earned the holy benefit of bathing in the uninterrupted-clean Triveni.”
Leading the way, Naga Sadhus from various akharas (ascetic sects) performed the holy bath, captivating the thousands of onlookers in the process. The grand event continues to attract a massive number of devotees, with a similar turnout expected for Wednesday.
The Mahakumbh Mela, which began on January 13, will conclude on February 26. Key dates for upcoming holy baths include January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), February 3 (Basant Panchami), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).
The Mela, celebrated every 12 years, has seen a heavy influx of pilgrims and saints since its inception. Naga sadhus, including those from Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani and Shri Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara, were among the first to take the Amrit Snan.
In light of the heavy traffic congestion following Tuesday’s event, schools in Prayagraj from classes 1 to 8 will remain closed on Wednesday.
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