Maha Kumbh: Over 1.65 Million Devotees Participate In ‘Amrit Snan’ On Basant Panchami

Last Updated:February 03, 2025, 08:09 IST

Maha Kumbh 2025: The Maha Kumbh witnessed its third grand ‘Amrit Snan’ on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees at the Triveni Sangam.

Thousands of devotees at the Triveni Sangam on Basant Panchami. (Yogi Adityanath/X)

Maha Kumbh 2025: On the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami, more than 1.65 million devotees took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam at 4 am on Monday to mark the beginning of the third ‘Amrit Snan’ (holy bath) at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

As of 7:30 pm, all 13 Akharas – including Mahanirvani, Atal, Juna and Niranjani – had taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. Flower petals were showered on saints and seers taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam on the occasion of Basant Panchami.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had been closely monitoring the Amrit Snan from the war room of his official residence and has been closely coordinating with officials and issuing required instructions to ensure that the event is conducted smoothly.

“Amrit Snan started on the Ghats by Naga Sadhus. With faith and devotion, the banks of Triveni are witnessing the ancient Indian culture and traditions,” the Maha Kumbh administration said in a post on X.

CM Yogi’s ‘Operation Eleven’

Top officials at Prayagraj are geared up to follow Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “zero error” directive for Monday’s ‘Amrit Snan’ at the Maha Kumbh. The state government has also put into place a special crowd management plan named ‘Operation Eleven’ for the mega event.

The plan ensures a “one-way traffic route” for devotees and smooth movement on pontoon bridges. Additional police forces were deployed and barricades were increased as part of the robust security arrangements to ensure that the event goes smoothly, particularly after a devastating stampede at Sangam on Mauni Amavasya that claimed at least 30 lives last week.

“We are witnessing India’s unity here. People from different views, religions are together on the banks of Ganga. There is fear, unrest but there is peace and happiness in India. The world is witnessing wars, but India has knowledge. We are ready to lead the world by our spiritual values, by yoga and ayurveda. We world is seeing towards India for solutions, ” Swami Avdheshanand Giri Acharya Mahamandleshwar Juna Akhara told PTI.

By 4 am, 16.58 lakh devotees had taken the holy dip, with the overall figure of those who took the dip since January 13 reaching 34.97 crore, Information Director Shishir said, adding the figure included 10 lakh kalpvasis and 6.58 pilgrims. The Uttar Pradesh government expects a footfall of around five crore pilgrims on Monday alone.

“On the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami, heartfelt congratulations to the revered saints, religious leaders, all the akhadas, those observing the sacred vow, and all the devotees who will earn divine merit by taking a holy dip in the sacred Triveni Sangam during the Mahakumbh-2025 in Prayagraj!” said CM Yogi Adityanath on X.

Ahead of the Amrit Snan, over 34 crore devotees have participated in the sacred bathing ritual since the commencement of the Maha Kumbh Mela on January 13, according to the Uttar Pradesh Information Department.

The Amrit Snan is the grandest and most sacred ritual of the Maha Kumbh Mela, attracting millions of pilgrims from around the world to the banks of the Triveni Sangam. Devotees believe that taking a dip during such special celestial alignments washes away their sins and paves path for ‘moksha’, or salvation.

Apart from Amrit Snan dates, there are three other major bathing dates one of which was January 13 (Paush Purnima) while the two others are February 12 (Maghi Purnima) and 26 (Mahashivratri), which also marks the culmination of the once-in-a-12-year-event.

Location :

Uttar Pradesh, India, India