1.6 crore people take holy dip during Maha Kumbh on Maghi Purnima-OxBig News Network

Amid elaborate arrangements, nearly 1.6 crore people took a dip at the Sangam till noon on Wednesday on the occasion of Maghi Purnima during the Maha Kumbh mela here, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement.

The sacred bath began early on Wednesday and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been monitoring the event from Lucknow.

With the Maghi Purnima bath, the month-long Kalpavas will also end and around 10 lakh ‘Kalpvasis’ will start leaving the Maha Kumbh. The administration has requested them to follow traffic rules and use only authorised parking spaces.

While lakhs of devotees are headed to the Sangam Nose to take a dip, the Uttar Pradesh government in a statement said that by noon, 1.59 crore people had taken the ritual dip at the Triveni Sangam and other ghats.

Flower petals were also showered on devotees from a helicopter.

CM Adityanath has been monitoring the Maghi Purnima Snan since 4 am at the war room in his official residence in Lucknow, the statement said.

Cricket legend Anil Kumble, along with wife Chaitna Ramtirtha, took a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam.

After arriving in Prayagraj on Tuesday, Kumble chose to take the holy dip on Magh Purnima, a day when no VIP protocols are observed. He joined the devotees as a regular pilgrim, taking a boat to the confluence with his wife for the ritual.

Director General of Police Prashant Kumar, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and officials of CM Secretariat are also present at the war room, it said.

Maha Kumbh Mela DIG Vaibhav Krishna said, “Today is Maghi Purnima and more than one crore people have taken the dip. Our arrangements are quite good and police deployment is there at all places. The crowd is moving comfortably. Our SOPs are being followed.”