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– By Pritam Nachankar, Yadnesh Sawant, Nilesh Kulkarni
Prayagraj – The Maha Kumbha Mela, which was awaited by crores of devotees from all over the world for many days, began today with unprecedented enthusiasm. The city of Kumbha was literally overflowing with the arrival of lakhs of devotees today. At the Sangam of the river Ganga on one side, Yamuna on the other and Saraswati flowing below, an estimated 1.65 crore devotees took the first bath (parva snan) while chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Jai Shriram’. At this time, the entire Kumbha Kshetra was filled with devotion and Divinity. The joy of the parva snan was overflowing on the faces of the devotees. The devotees were taking a dip of faith at the Triveni Sangam and considered themselves blessed. Crores of devotees will attend this Maha Kumbha, which has come after 144 years, and take advantage of this festival by showing their presence in the coming 1.5 months.
🌟 Confluence of Devotion and faith at Triveni Sangam! 🌊
Over 1.5 crore devotees took part in the holy Parv Snan at Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025. 🙏✨
📅 On 14th Jan, the first Amrit Snan is set to take place, with an estimated 3 crore devotees expected! 🕉️
महाकुंभ l प्रयागराज l… pic.twitter.com/xyNscojdfg
— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) January 13, 2025
The first ‘Parva Snan’ of the Prayagraj Maha Kumbha 2025 took place on 13th January with extraordinary enthusiasm, as approximately 80 lakhs devotees from India and abroad gathered at the Triveni Sangam. The ritual bathing commenced as early as 4 a.m. Despite the biting cold, the roads leading to the Sangam were crowded with devotees, who travelled distances of 6-7 kilometres to reach the site. People of all ages, from children to the elderly, participated in this holy event. A particularly noteworthy aspect was the significant participation of devotees observing the ‘Kalpavas’ (a spiritual vow). Amid chants of “Jai Siyaram,” the devotees performed the ritual bath at the Triveni Sangam, followed by Ganga Puja and the traditional practice of releasing lit lamps into the river.
The festival also witnessed notable participation from foreign visitors, adding a distinctive touch to the event. The next major event, the first ‘Rajasi Snan,’ is scheduled for 14th January at this place, on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, with an estimated 3 crore devotees, including prominent Saints and Sadhus from various Akhadas, expected to attend. To facilitate today’s holy bath, the Water Conservation Department released additional water into the Ganga River, resulting in an increased flow. Devotees also praised the river’s exceptionally clean water, which enhanced their experience. The Maha Kumbha Mela will take place from 13th January till 26th February.
Highlights
1. Volunteers assisted the administration in maintaining order.
2. Many Sadhus, Saints and devotees engaged in spiritual activities such as meditation, chanting, Bhajan, Kirtan, and scripture reading after their ritual baths.
3. Many devotees carried Ganga water home with reverence after the bath.
Trial run for Police and administration; room for improvement in managementThe ‘Parva Snan’ served as a trial for the Police and administrative systems, as the crowd for such events is typically half the size of the ‘Amrit Snan.’ Considering following issues, it can be said that the authorities barely managed to pass the test and could improve significantly for the upcoming ‘Amrit Snan’ on 14th January. 1. Chaos on the Pontoon bridge : Congestion at the entry points of the temporary pontoon bridges created a near-stampede scenario over a 50-metre stretch, leading to moments of tension. The slow movement of crowds on the bridge further exacerbated the situation, with Police on-site unable to manage effectively. 2. Lack of directional signage : The absence of adequate signboards leading to the Sangam caused confusion, especially for first-time visitors, who frequently had to ask for directions. Although the administration had designated separate routes for entry and exit, the lack of clear, visible signage resulted in overlap between incoming and outgoing devotees, causing unnecessary crowding. 3. Inexcusable laxity in the system for assistance of missing persons : The Police had widely publicised their arrangements to assist people separated from their groups. However, in reality, the setup was severely inadequate. Only one help desk was set up at the Sangam, with no clear signage indicating its location. Announcements were made calling out the names of missing persons’ relatives and directing them to “Bridge No. 1.” However, the location of this bridge was unclear, creating further confusion and distress. Many relatives were visibly upset, some on the verge of tears. According to Police reports, at least 3,000 complaints about missing persons were registered between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. This highlighted the inadequacy of the system and the lack of necessary awareness campaigns by the authorities. 4. Inconvenience to women : Changing rooms for women, set up at some distance from the riverbanks, proved challenging to access due to the overwhelming crowds. This underscored the need for such facilities to be located closer to the bathing areas to ensure convenience for women. 5. Nuisance of the beggars : The tradition of giving alms after bathing attracted a large number of beggars to the Sangam, who persistently approached devotees, causing inconvenience. |