Mamata visits school during Madhyamik exams, interacts with parents & teachers | Watch
The first "Amrit Snan" of Maha Kumbh 2025 took place at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on Makar Sankranti, where over 10 million devotees participated in the holy dip. The ritual, marking the beginning of the 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela, involved devotees bathing in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The event is considered one of the holiest rituals in Hinduism, with the belief that taking a dip during the Maha Kumbh absolves sins and helps devotees attain salvation from the cycle of life and death.
The holy dip began early in the morning, and thousands of devotees participated despite freezing temperatures and thick fog. The chanting of sacred hymns, including "Har Har Mahadev," "Jai Shri Ram," and "Jai Ganga Maiyya," reverberated across the Sangam as devotees entered the river in a show of spiritual devotion. The first "Amrit Snan" also saw participation from Hindu monastic orders known as akharas. Thirteen akharas are participating in the Maha Kumbh, and the first to take the dip were Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani and Shri Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara.
The Uttar Pradesh government has deployed a significant security and logistical infrastructure for the Maha Kumbh. More than 50,000 security personnel have been stationed across the venue, including drones, to monitor crowds and ensure the safety of millions of devotees. In addition, over 400 million people are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh over the six-week duration, with more than 150,000 tents set up to accommodate the pilgrims. Around 145,000 restrooms and 3,000 kitchens have been installed to cater to the needs of the devotees. Indian Railways is running additional trains, including 98 special trains, to transport pilgrims to Prayagraj, with a focus on providing smooth transportation to the large influx of visitors.
A temporary city has been created to host the pilgrims, covering over 4,000 hectares of land along the Ganga river. This temporary settlement includes a wide range of facilities, such as medical centers, food stalls, and rest areas, to manage the large crowd. The Kalpvas, a spiritual practice in which devotees live at the Sangam for a month, began on the same day as the first "Amrit Snan." About 2.5 million Kalpvasis will stay in Prayagraj for the month, taking part in rituals, performing meditation, and chanting prayers. Kalpvasis are expected to take three holy dips during their stay and participate in spiritual discourses.
The Kumbh Mela, rooted in Hindu mythology, originates from the story of Lord Vishnu retrieving the nectar of immortality from the demons during a celestial battle. The nectar is believed to have spilled in four locations on Earth: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, where the Kumbh Mela is held in rotation. The Maha Kumbh, which takes place once every 12 years, is considered the most auspicious of the Kumbh Melas. This year’s Maha Kumbh is expected to be the largest ever, with millions of pilgrims participating in one of the largest and most significant religious gatherings in the world.