Maha Kumbh: Final Amrit Snan sees record crowd at Sangam on Basant Panchami

Flower petals were showered on devotees as they took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, marking the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami.

The third grand Amrit Snan of the Maha Kumbh, being celebrated on Basant Panchami, drew a massive turnout of devotees to the sacred Triveni Sangam for a spiritual dip on Monday.

In the early hours, sadhus, including the renowned Naga sadhus from various akharas, made their ceremonial journey to the ghats. By 6 am, the first of the akharas, including Juna Akhara, had completed their sacred ritual. The atmosphere was further enhanced by rose petals showered from a helicopter, creating a festive and grand ambiance.

As per the Uttar Pradesh Information Department, by 8 am, over 62.25 lakh devotees had taken the holy dip, bringing the total number of pilgrims to more than 34.97 crore since January 13. This marks the final 'Amrit Snan' of Maha Kumbh 2025, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated the seers and devotees who participated in the third grand Amrit Snan. The CM has been closely overseeing the event from Lucknow to ensure its smooth execution.

Taking to microblogging site X, Adityanath expressed, "Hearty congratulations to the revered saints, religious leaders, all Akharas, Kalpvasis, and devotees who earned the blessings of virtue by taking the holy 'Amrit' dip at the sacred Triveni Sangam during Basant Panchami at Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj!" The Chief Minister, who has been vigilantly overseeing the event from his residence in Lucknow, continues to stay updated on the progress of the 'Amrit Snan' through regular reports from officials.

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Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) February 3, 2025

DIG Maha Kumbh, Vaibhav Krishna, stated, "The arrangements are excellent, and our crowd control measures are fully in place today. The snan of all Akharas has been successfully completed. Mahanirvani Akhara, Niranjani Akhara, and Juna Akhara have successfully performed their rituals, and the other Akharas will also complete their snan smoothly."

Vivek Chaturvedi, the Additional Mela Officer, shared, "This is the third 'Amrit Snan' coinciding with Basant Panchami. All the Akharas are arriving one by one for the holy dip in the Sangam. We have deployed robust security, and the administration is constantly monitoring the situation."

As of 4 am, over 16.58 lakh pilgrims had already partaken in the holy dip, taking the total count since January 13 to 34.97 crore. Authorities anticipate that up to five crore pilgrims will join the gathering on Basant Panchami itself.

In light of the tragic stampede during the Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan on January 29, authorities have implemented extra safety measures. A well-coordinated effort among the local administration, police, and the pilgrims has ensured the crowd remains distributed across various ghats, significantly reducing the risk of overcrowding.

This year’s Amrit Snan holds special significance, as astrologers point to the rare "Triveni Yog" celestial alignment, which occurs only once every 144 years, making the Kumbh Mela particularly auspicious. The event is being carried out with precision, with akharas taking turns for their ritual dips in a pre-arranged sequence. The Sanyasi sect was the first to take the dip, followed by the Bairagi and Udaseen sects.

Mahamandaleshwar Shri Devi Maa, a South American Sadhvi, expressed her gratitude, saying, "It is a great blessing to receive Goddess Ganga’s divine blessings through this holy dip. The Maha Kumbh Mela is a sacred opportunity to elevate our consciousness and transition into a higher state of awareness."

Shambhu Panch Agni Akhada’s Swami Vishnu Maharaj reflected on the spiritual atmosphere, stating, "The energy here is powerful, and the significance of Prayagraj has grown with the arrival of the Akharas and devotees. There is a deep atmosphere of prayer and austerity, and the arrangements for the pilgrims are excellent."

Despite the previous incidents, the 'Amrit Snan' is progressing without any major disruptions due to reinforced security measures to ensure the safety of all pilgrims.

(With inputs from agencies)