Agencies
MAHAKUMBH NAGAR, Feb 3: The third 'Amrit Snan' at the Maha Kumbh proceeded smoothly on Monday with lakhs of people taking a dip on the occasion of Basant Panchmi and akharas resuming the grand processions curtailed last week when a stampede killed at least 30 people. By 4 pm, an estimated two crore devotees had taken the ritual dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, according to figures shared by the Uttar Pradesh government.
After the stampede that broke out at the Sangam on 'Mauni Amavasya' (January 29), the state government mounted up safety measures with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directing officials to adopt a 'zero-error' approach. Unlike the Mauni Amavasya dip when crowd pressure built up at the Sangam, many devotees this time took to other ghats instead of jostling for space at the confluence exhibiting self-awareness amid heightened security and crowd control measures in the Mela area, according to officials.
Chief Minister Adityanath monitored the situation from his official residence in Lucknow since 3.30 am, they said.
DIG (Maha Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna told PTI Videos that in light of the January 29 stampede, additional force was deployed at all pressure points for crowd management.
"Everything is running smoothly today," he said during a pre-dawn patrolling in the Mela area.
Later in the day, the DIG and some other senior officers went around the Mela area on horseback to assess crowd management.
"Our crowd management has been good today, which is visible. No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere yet. Additional deployment has been made at the pressure points. The Amrit Snan is progressing smoothly as per order," Krishna said.
By 4 pm, over 1.98 crore devotees had taken a dip in the Sangam, the government said, adding that it expected a footfall of around five crore pilgrims through Monday. Overall, since the beginning of the Maha Kumbh on January 13, it has recorded 34.97 crore visitors. At break of dawn, seers from various akharas, including the ash-smeared Naga sadhus, began their ceremonial journey towards the Triveni Sangam.
By 3 pm, almost all akharas had completed their bath and started returning to their camps. Helicopters were used to shower rose petals upon the seers and pilgrims at the site considered among most sacred by Hindus.
Juna Akhara Peethadhishwar Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj told PTI Videos, "The entire world is looking at India, at our social harmony and spiritual values." As per tradition, akharas belonging to three sects -- Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen -- took the holy dip in a pre-determined sequence.
According to the schedule released by Maha Kumbh authorities, the Amrit Snan (formerly 'Shahi Snan') commenced at 4 am with akharas of the Sanyasi sect.
Leading the sacred procession were Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani, Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara, Taponidhi Panchayati Niranjani Akhara, Panchayati Akhara Anand, Panchdashnam Juna Akhara, Panchdashnam Avahan Akhara, and Panchagni Akhara.
Each akhara was allotted a 40-minute window, with the first procession completing the ritual and returning to their camps by 8.30 am.
Next in line were the akharas of the Bairagi sect, whose bathing sequence began at 8.25 am. The processions included the All India Panch Nirvani Ani Akhara, All India Panch Digamber Ani Akhara, and All India Panch Nirmohi Ani Akhara.
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