Prayagraj: Around 1.03 crore devotees, including revered seers, saints, and Kalpvasis (ascetics who undergo month-long penance), took a sacred dip in the Sangam on Thursday, marking the second day of Makar Sankranti, a key snan at the Magh Mela. In just two days of Makar Sankranti, a whopping 1.85 crore devotees, pilgrims, and Kalpvasis flocked to the sacred waters, seeking punya through the holy dip. Apart from the holy bath, the devotees performed rituals, offered ‘daan’ (alms) and distributed ‘khichdi’ to seek salvation on the banks of the Ganga. Devotees kept pouring in on the Ganga’s banks since early Thursday, with groups of all ages marching towards the sacred waters, seeking salvation. Mela officer Rishiraj said that by 4 pm, more than 91 lakh people had taken a holy dip on Makar Sankranti. SP (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey told TOI, “The snan passed off peacefully, and no untoward incident was reported.”He
said strict surveillance was maintained in and around the mela campus, with senior police officers regulating the crowd at entry and exit points, and at ghats too. Kalpvasis, observing their month-long penance, thronged Triveni Sangam to take a faith-filled dip and marked Sankranti by donating ‘khichdi’ and jaggery. Dandi sanyasis and acharya tradition saints also bathed at Ganga ghats, offering prayers to the Sun God during Uttarayan. Naga Sadhus from various akharas joined the Sankranti dip, seeking personal salvation.Jyotipithadhishwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the head of the Jyotish Peeth, performed Ganga Puja, Gau Puja (cow worship), and Ganesh Puja, and formally launched his “Gau Pratishtha Prerna Yatra”.
The sunny weather conditions swelled the volume of the devotees from all corners. The Sanatani Kinnar Akhara, observing kalpvas in Prayagwal Nagar within the Magh Mela area, set out for the Ganga ghat with great enthusiasm in the morning.
The disciples of the Kinnar Akhara performed the Tandav dance along the way, creating a devotional and ethereal atmosphere. Akhara’s Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Kaushalya Nand Giri, aka Tina Maa, made an impassioned appeal to devotees, highlighting the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. She urged unity among Sanatan Dharma followers, backing UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s call. “It’s time to turn this into a firm resolve,” she said. Meanwhile, a total of 181 people, including 110 men, 63 women and 8 children, were reunited with their families at lost and found camps in two days of Makar Sankranti
