A massive gathering of devotees was seen taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on Friday during the ongoing Mahakumbh. Drone visuals captured the sea of devotees braving the intense cold to participate in the spiritual event.
According to official data from the Uttar Pradesh government, over 30.29 lakh devotees, including 10 lakh ‘kalpwasis,’ took a holy dip by 10 AM. Since the Mahakumbh’s commencement, more than 102 million people have participated in the sacred bathing ritual.
On Thursday, the Mahakumbh reached a significant milestone, with the total number of bathers crossing 10 crore. The Uttar Pradesh government estimates that the event will host over 45 crore visitors, and the early achievement of this milestone reaffirms these projections.
The morning Aarti, a key ritual of devotion at the Ganga ghats, was performed by priests holding large lighted oil lamps. Flowers and diyas were offered to the river Ganga, creating a serene and spiritual atmosphere.
Visitors from across the globe marveled at the diverse gathering of people, representing various languages, lifestyles, and traditions, united at the Sangam for the holy dip.
Among the attendees were devotees from Russia and Ukraine—two nations embroiled in a three-year-long conflict—who came together to present a message of spiritual unity. On Thursday, the atmosphere turned sublime as devotees gathered to perform kirtans and sang ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ on a cold winter evening.
A devotee from Russia shared her thoughts with ANI, emphasizing the gathering’s unity and spiritual significance.
“I came here from Russia, and my Guru Maa came from Ukraine. Many of my Guru sisters and brothers have come from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Europe, and the USA. We all came here for the Maha Kumbh to take a bath in the Ganga on this auspicious day. As we know, all deities and divine energies come to bathe in the Ganga waters, so we follow their example,” she said.
“This is a great gathering of people in the world. It’s the biggest festival ever, and we all come here as Sadhus—whether Russian, Ukrainian, or Indian. We all follow Sanatana Dharma,” she added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam alongside several ministers from his cabinet, adding to the spiritual fervor of the Mahakumbh.
Authorities are now gearing up for Mauni Amavasya on January 29, one of the most auspicious days of the Mahakumbh, which is expected to attract even larger crowds. Preparations are underway to ensure a smooth and safe experience for the millions of devotees anticipated to attend.
The Mahakumbh continues to exemplify spiritual unity and devotion, drawing people from all walks of life to partake in this once-in-a-lifetime event.
