Amid Chaos Over Stampede In Maha Kumbh, 1.75 Crore Devotees Take Dip Till 6 AM At Triveni Sangam

Amid chaos over the stampede, a sea of devotees continues to pour into the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj for the sacred Mauni Amavasya bath in the Triveni waters on Wednesday.

1.75 Crore Till 6 AM

According to the Uttar Pradesh government, 1.75 crore people had taken a holy dip by 6 AM today, bringing the total number of pilgrims who have bathed in the Sangam since the beginning of the Kumbh to 19.94 crore as of January 28. However, 10 crore people are expected to take bath at the Triveni Sangam today.

PM Modi Closely Monitoring the Situation

In response to a stampede-like situation that unfolded in the early hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been closely monitoring developments. He has been in constant communication with the Uttar Pradesh government and has spoken with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath three times this morning. The Prime Minister is actively guiding efforts to restore normalcy and expedite relief measures at the Mela.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also reached out to CM Yogi Adityanath regarding the situation. Expressing concern over the incident, he assured the UP government of the Centre's full support in handling the situation and ensuring the safety of pilgrims.

Akharas Resume Holy Dip After Temporary Suspension

Following the morning chaos, the Akharas had initially decided to call off their ritualistic holy dip for the day. However, Ravindra Puri, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, has now confirmed that the Akharas will proceed with their 'snan' as planned. He stated that they are in constant touch with the Mela administration and have decided to resume their bath as the crowds at the ghats have begun to thin.

"Our snan was postponed in the morning due to the massive rush of devotees. We attempted to delay it for safety reasons. Now that the ghats meant for our snan are being cleared, all Akharas, including our Mahamandaleshwars, Mandaleshwars, Naga Sadhus, and devotees, will proceed with the holy dip today," Puri told ANI.

He further added that while the Akharas will continue with their traditional processions, the scale will be slightly reduced. Given the magnitude of the event, Puri mentioned that there is ample time for the Akharas to complete their rituals and, if necessary, they may even take their holy dip at night.

Claims of Misinformation Behind Crowd Panic

Reacting to the stampede-like situation, Ravindra Puri suggested that the chaos was fueled by misinformation, which created unnecessary panic among devotees.

"In the morning, false information was circulated to instill fear among the pilgrims, leading to confusion. However, when we verified the facts, we found that the situation on the ground was different from what was being portrayed. I urge devotees not to rush toward the Sangam but to take their dip at any accessible point in the sacred waters of the Ganga," he stated.

CM Yogi Adityanath's Appeal To Devotees

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued an appeal to pilgrims, urging them to take their holy dip at the ghats closest to them rather than converging in large numbers at a single location.

"Dear devotees, welcome to Prayagraj. Please take a bath at the ghat nearest to you rather than heading towards Sangam Nose. Follow the administration's instructions and cooperate to maintain order. Bathing is taking place peacefully at all ghats, and I urge you not to believe in any rumors," the CM posted on X.

Unprecedented Crowd Expected for Mauni Amavasya

The incident occurred as an overwhelming number of devotees gathered at the Sangam Ghats to perform the 'Amrit Snan' on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, a day of immense religious significance in the Maha Kumbh calendar. This event marks the second 'Shahi Snan' and is anticipated to draw between 80 to 100 million people.

Apart from Mauni Amavasya, other major bathing dates in the ongoing Maha Kumbh include February 3 (Basant Panchami - Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri), all of which are expected to witness a massive influx of pilgrims.