Kumar Bahukhandi
A wave of faith swelled at Sangam on Maghi Purnima. – Photo: Prime Look
Maghi Purnima: On Maghi Purnima, devotees took a dip in the infinite drops of faith at Sangam. Devotees from every corner of the country are reaching the sands of Sangam to take part in the world’s largest cultural event.
पूजहिं माधव पद जलजाता/ परसि अखय बटु हरषहिं गाता..!The meaning of this quatrain of Saint Tulsi is that by taking a dip in the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati, all the sages, saints, gods and demons become blessed by worshipping the lotus feet of Lord Shri Hari Madhav, the Lord of the world, seated on the throne of Sangam. Also, by touching Akshayvat, the pain and suffering of their body and mind are removed forever.
On Maghi Purnima, the fifth biggest bathing festival of Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest cultural event, once again this glory of Sangam became real in the restlessness of the touch of the nectar-like drops of world-wide faith. The sea of people, eager to take a holy dip on Maghi Purnima since midnight, was eager to break the embankments of faith and overflow throughout the day. The fair administration claimed that 1.83 crore devotees took a dip at the 42 ghats of the 12 km long Sangam till 2 pm.
No one waited for sunrise or auspicious time. At midnight, everyone started taking a dip on the picturesque banks of Triveni with the eagerness to collect the virtue of the glory of Maghi Purnima in Prayag. Due to the jam packed crowd, there was no place to keep clothes on the sand or to stop. In that very crowd, someone’s bag, someone’s clothes and someone’s family members kept disappearing from sight.
Crowds of devotees gathered at Sangam on Maghi Purnima. – Photo: Channel 2 4
Meanwhile, the sound of the conches blown by the priests and saints was thrilling the body and mind and amidst the sound of the bells, the waves of faith, trust and devotion were touching every heart. The divine aura of faith emanating from the infinite ocean of devotion spread a wonderful glow everywhere from Sangam to the roads leading from the camps of Maha Kumbh Nagar spread over an area of four thousand hectares. As soon as the dawn broke, the rays emerging from the redness of the east descended on the waves of Sangam and started infusing strength and joy in every body and mind. Along with taking a holy dip, songs of public welfare were sung on the same waves.
A sea of devotees gathered on Maghi Purnima in Maha Kumbh. – Photo: Channel 24
Despite the ban, lamps of good luck kept burning at Sangam and milk Abhishek also kept happening. The smile on the faces of the priests applying Tilak-Tripund was worth seeing. The devotees who came with drums and harmonium from Buxar in Bihar and Daltonganj in Garhwa in Jharkhand kept doing kirtan on the roads leading to Sangam in groups. The colors of different languages, clothes and cultures were mingling with each other in such a joyous way, as if the desire of many years was getting fulfilled.
Children were riding on the shoulders of their parents and women reached Sangam to take bath holding the hands of their husbands or sons. Such a gathering was seen everywhere in Maha Kumbh to earn virtue at Sangam. After many years, due to Kumbh Sankranti being held on Maghi Purnima in Maha Kumbh, the wave of people kept pouring on the roads from Jhunsi to Phaphamau, Naini.
A sea of devotees gathered at Sangam on Maghi Purnima. – Photo: Channel 24
The month-long rituals of Kalpvasis were completed, the color of devotion deepened
On one side the joy of dipping and on the other side the month-long rituals of Kalpvas deepened the color of devotion in Maha Kumbh. Akhand Ramayan Paath and Kirtan had started in the camps throughout the night. The flow of knowledge in the form of Katha and Satsang merged with the devotion and love of Ganga-Yamuna and created a different Triveni. In the camp of Radha Adhyatmik Satsang Samiti located in Sector 19, Dr. Amita Radhacharya discussed Magh Mahatmya in detail. In the camp of Prayagraj Seva Samiti, regarding Sangam World Heritage Campaign, the month-long rituals were completed along with the story of Lord Satyanarayan.
Crowds of devotees gathered at Sangam on Maghi Purnima. – Photo: Channel 2 4
Officers showered 42 quintals of flowers on saints, devotees and Kalpvasis
On the Maghi Purnima bathing festival, the shower of flowers on devotees, saints and Kalpvasis started from helicopter in the morning itself. The officers showered 42 quintals of marigold and rose petals on all the bathing ghats of Ganga including Sangam till evening. During this, the devotees, thrilled by the shower of flowers, also kept raising loud cheers.
Crowds of devotees gathered at Sangam on Maghi Purnima. – Photo: Channel 2 4
Claim that 1.83 crore devotees took a dip by noon
Maghi Purnima dip was taken at 42 bathing ghats
50 thousand security personnel took charge of the city of tents settled in 25 sectors
The government had made additional deployment of 38 top officers for smooth bathing
03 ADGs and three IGs were also separately deployed to organize Maghi Purnima bathing festival
