The first ‘Amrit Snan’ (royal bath) of the Maha Kumbh Mela witnessed 13.8 million devotees taking a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj by 10:30 am on Tuesday, according to officials.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed the event as a “living testament” to India’s eternal culture and faith. In a post on X, he congratulated the devotees, saying, “On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, congratulations to all the devotees who earned virtue by taking the first ‘Amrit Snan’ at the Triveni Sangam in Maha Kumbh 2025, Prayagraj!”
Swami Chidambaranand of Mahanirvan Akhara, one of the 13 Akharas of Sanatan Dharm participating in the Maha Kumbh, emphasized the event’s cultural and spiritual significance.
“Crores of people are witnessing the pride of our culture. There’s joy and excitement everywhere, and people have braved the cold, waiting since 2 am to catch a glimpse of the saints,” he said.
He also highlighted the unity fostered by the Kumbh, saying: “In this vast crowd, there are no divisions of caste—no Brahmins or Shudras—only Hindus and Hindu culture.”
On Monday, the festival’s first day, over 15 million pilgrims took part in the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
To accommodate the massive influx of visitors, more than 150,000 tents have been set up, 450,000 new electric connections made, and 40,000 police officers deployed to ensure the event goes off smoothly.
(With inputs from agencies)