On Makar Sankranti, 1.03 crore devotees took a holy bath on the second bathing festival of Magh Mela at Sangam in Prayagraj. Sanatani Kinnar Akhara also took bath in Ganga and gave the message of eternal unity.
Prayagraj. On the holy festival of Makar Sankranti, a huge crowd of devotees gathered in Prayagraj. On the second bathing festival of Magh Mela organized on the banks of Triveni, devotees from every corner of the country took a holy dip in the Sangam. Due to the meticulous arrangements made by the administration, this bathing festival was completely peaceful and safe.
The holy bath started from morning on the ghats of Magh Mela.
The process of bathing of devotees had started since morning at all the major ghats of Magh Mela area. Kalpavasi reached the banks of Triveni and took a dip of faith in the Sangam and followed the tradition of Makar Sankranti by donating khichdi and jaggery. Dandi Sadhus and saints of Acharya sect took bath at the nearby Ganga ghats and duly worshiped Lord Uttarayan Bhaskar.
Naga monks arrived for Sankranti bath
Although there is no tradition of collective bathing of Akharas in Magh Mela, many Naga Sannyasis associated with Akharas reached Sangam on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. He personally took a holy bath in the Sangam with the wish of salvation.
Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda worshiped Ganga
On this occasion, Jyotishpeethadhishwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati worshiped Ganga at the Sangam and formally inaugurated his ‘Go Pratishtha Prerna Yatra’. Due to clear weather, the number of devotees continued to increase throughout the day.
1.03 crore devotees took a dip in Sangam in one day
According to fair officer Rishiraj, on the day of Makar Sankranti, by 4 pm on Thursday, more than 91 lakh devotees had taken bath in the Sangam. By sunset this number increased to 1.03 crore, indicating the historic presence of the second bathing festival of Magh Mela.
Sanatani Kinnar Akhara took bath in Ganga
On the bathing festival of Makar Sankranti, Sanatani Kinnar Akhara, who was doing Kalpavas in Prayagwal city of Magh Mela area, also came out with full enthusiasm to bathe in the Ganga. While going towards the banks of Ganga, the disciples of the Akhara performed Tandava dance, due to which the atmosphere became devotional and supernatural.
Kuldevi Bauchara Mata was bathed in Ganga.
After reaching the banks of Ganga, the members of Kinnar Akhara first bathed their family deity Bauchara Mata in the Ganga. After this, all the members of the Akhara collectively took a holy dip in the Sangam.
Call for unity on oppression of Hindus in Bangladesh
On this occasion, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Kaushalya Nand Giri of Kinnar Akhara appealed to the devotees that in view of the oppression of Hindus in Bangladesh, the time has come to convert Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s call to Sanatanis to unite into a resolution. He said that only when all Sanatani remain united will they be able to remain safe and strong.