By 8 am on Monday alone, 6.2 million devotees had taken a holy dip at Triveni Sangam, marking a historic milestone. With 23 days remaining in the Mahakumbh, the total count is expected to exceed 500 million.
'Bhasma aarti' (offering with ashes) is a famous ritual here. It is performed during the 'Brahma Muhurta' between around 3:30 and 5:30 in the morning. According to religious beliefs, the wishes of the devotee who participates in the Bhasma aarti are fulfilled.
Foreign devotees on Monday took third 'Amrit Snan' at the Triveni Sangam on Basant Panchami in Prayagraj, pilgrims from Slovenia to Ukraine and Germany expressed their gratitude, with many describing the moment as energising, blessed, and beyond words.
"All the 13 Akhadas took holy dip at Triveni Sangam. We offered prayers to Ganga Maa, Lord Shiva. All the Nagas are very excited. This was our third Amrit Snan."
As of February 2, over 349.7 million (34.97 crore) devotees have participated in the sacred bathing ritual since the commencement of the Maha Kumbh Mela on January 13, according to the Uttar Pradesh Information Department.
Prayagraj witnessed a massive influx of devotees on the occasion of Basant Panchami, with thousands taking a holy dip in the sacred Triveni Sangam- the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati.
Earlier, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajesh Dwivedi on Sunday assured that a three-tier system is being implemented to ensure smooth proceedings for the sacred event.