When not even a ray of light had emerged in Tirtharaj Prayagraj, amidst the bone-chilling cold, a crowd of devotees gathered in Mahakumbh Nagar on the holy festival of Makar Sankranti. Crores of people from India and abroad reached the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati to take bath in nectar. This scene of the holy bath seemed to reflect the depth of Indian culture and tradition. In the Brahma Muhurta itself, people took a dip of faith in the holy river Ganga and the banks of Sangam and prayed for happiness, health and prosperity.
Devotees gathered to watch the grand procession of Naga Sadhus
Naga Sadhus of Panchayati Nirvani Akhara took the nectar bath in their royal form with spear, trident and swords. Sages and saints joined the procession riding on horses and chariots, which spread devotion and spiritual energy in the entire area. The bhajan groups accompanying them and the shouts of devotees made the atmosphere more divine.
Devotees were running towards Ganga since midnight with a bundle on their head and a bag in their side.
There was a rush of devotees in Nagavasuki temple and Sangam area since early morning. Elders, women and youth, all carrying bundles on their heads, were seen moving towards the Sangam full of faith. The reverence for bathing was such that people started taking a dip in the holy waters of Ganga from the very night itself.
Strict security arrangements at every nook and corner, mounted police marched
The administration made concrete arrangements for the safety of the devotees in Mahakumbh Nagar. Vehicles were thoroughly checked by placing barricades on every route. The entire event remained peaceful and orderly due to the deployment of police and security forces at every nook and corner. The police team including DIG Kumbh Mela Vaibhav Krishna, SSP Rajesh Dwivedi marched on foot in the fair area with horses and paved the way for the Akhara Sadhus going for Amrit Snan.
Chants of Har Har Mahadev and Jai Shri Ram echoed on the ghats.
Shouts of Har Har Mahadev and Jai Shri Ram were heard at the bathing ghats spread over an area of 12 kilometers. Along with the nectar bath of the sadhus, common devotees also took a dip of their faith. A huge crowd of devotees was seen from all around the Sangam to take a bath in the Ganga. During this, everyone made the Sangam area echo with slogans of Har Har Mahadev and Jai Shri Ram.
