3.5 crore: Wave of humanity at Sangam for Maha Kumbh ‘Amrit Snan’

During the Amrit Snan, the akhadas hold the privilege of taking the first holy dip, and their bathing sequence is determined by the Akhada Parishad, which allocates time slots based on each one’s hierarchy.

People from different Akharas take holy bath at Triveni Sangam on the occasion of Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on Tuesday. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)

Mounted on horses, with drums and cymbals, ash-smeared Naga Sadhus carrying tridents and swords arrived first at the Triveni Sangam and took the holy dip during the sacred ‘Brahmamahurta.’ As they plunged into the waters, their cries reverberated across the area, marking the beginning of the Amrit Snan believed to cleanse lifetime of sins.

After Mahanirvani Akhada, the Naga Sadhus of Niranjani Akhada, Panchdashnam Juna Akhada, Aawahan Akhada, and Panch Agni Akhada took their turn for the holy dip.

This was followed by the Amrit Snan of Bairagi Akhadas of Shri Panch Nirmohi, Panch Digambar Ani, and Shri Panch Nirvani Ani. The final order of the holy bath included the sadhus and sanyasis from Udasin Akhada and Nirmal Akhada.

For the first time, over 500 transgender sadhus participated in the ritual, led by Tina Ma, a transwoman sadhu. She expressed pride in their inclusion, calling it a significant moment for the community. “We are grateful to Ma Ganga and pray for the country’s progress,” she said.

Pilgrims from across the world participated in the Amrit Snan. Many had traveled long distances, enduring hardships to reach the Sangam. Among them was Sarah, a 34-year-old from the UK, who described the experience as transformative. “It’s like being part of something eternal,” she said. Similarly, Carlos, a yoga teacher from Spain who came in a group of ten, said, “The scale of the event is mind-blowing. I feel blessed to see this all with my own eyes.”

Pilgrims from across the world participated in the Amrit Snan. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)

The Maha Kumbh also attracted first-time visitors like Claudia from Poland, who was drawn to witness the world’s largest gathering. “The parade of aghoris was the most fascinating,” she said, reflecting on the mix of spirituality and spectacle.

On Tuesday, 3.5 crore people, according to the government, had taken dip at the Sangam. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)

Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad said advanced monitoring systems, including thermal imaging at night and real-time visuals from drones and CCTV cameras during the day were being utilised for crowd control and safety. UP CM Yogi Adityanath said, “This is the living form of our eternal culture and faith. Today on the auspicious occasion of the great festival of folk faith ‘Makar Sankranti’, congratulations to all the devotees who earned virtue by taking the first ‘Amrit Snan’ at the Triveni Sangam in Mahakumbh-2025, Prayagraj”.