MAHAKUMBH NAGAR (UP), Jan 13: The Maha Kumbh Mela kicked off at the Sangam—the sacred meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the legendary Saraswati rivers—on Tuesday, with over 4 million individuals from diverse backgrounds partaking in the first holy dip.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the Maha Kumbh, running from January 13 to February 26, aims to elevate India’s rich cultural and spiritual traditions on a global scale.
According to Maha Kumbh Mela officer Vijay Kiran Anand, “More than 4 million people have already taken a dip.”
Ashutosh Varshney, convenor of the Prayagraj-based NGO Ram Naam Bank, explained the significance of ‘Paush Purnima’, which occurs on the 15th day of ‘Shukla Paksha’ in the Hindu month of ‘Paush’. This day also marks the beginning of ‘Kalpvasa’, a period dedicated to focused spiritual practice and devotion observed by pilgrims during the Maha Kumbh Mela.
The holy city of Prayagraj is currently receiving saints, seers, pilgrims, and devotees from all walks of life.
Authorities reported that nearly 5 million devotees took a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers in Mahakumbh Nagar on Sunday, just before ‘Paush Purnima’.
On Saturday alone, 3.3 million devotees visited the Mela to bathe in the Sangam, according to Director of Information Shishir, who added that over 8.5 million people had bathed in the river over the previous two days.
