While lakhs and crores of devotees took 'Amrit Snan' at the Triveni Sangam on the second day of Maha Kumbh 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government organised a grand flower shower for pilgrims, saints and Akharas visiting the holy town. Helicopters, deployed by the Yogi government, showered flower petals on the devotees at the ghats and Akharas while they took a holy dip in the river Ganga. The flower petals draped the gathering of devotees in rose petals, thereby leading to a breathtaking and magnificent spectacle. The sight of rose petals raining down at the ghats overwhelmed the devotees, who responded with heartfelt chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Har Har Mahadev'. The Horticulture Department, on the directives of the Yogi Adityanath government, had been meticulously preparing for the flower showers at the Maha Kumbh Mela for weeks. Special arrangements were made to procure and store rose petals to ensure an uninterrupted shower during the bathing festival. Preparations are well in place for similar flower showers on all the major 'Amrit Snan Parvs' of the Maha Kumbh, with plans to use around 20 quintals of rose petals for each occasion. On Monday, during the first bathing festival, Paush Purnima Snan, rose petals were showered on the devotees, while on the second day, Amrit Snan on Makar Sankranti, the divine flower shower continued, leaving devotees overwhelmed with devotion and spiritual fervour. The Horticulture Department ensured sufficient stock for the first two days, arranging over 40 quintals of rose petals to maintain the grandeur of the flower showers. This thoughtful initiative by the Yogi government has left a lasting impression on the devotees, enhancing their spiritual experience at the Maha Kumbh, the biggest gathering of Sanatan Dharma followers. The Maha Kumbh 2025 will see crores of devotees descending the holy town of Prayagraj over the next two months to take a dip of faith and to ‘wash away their sins’. Also Read: Mahakumbh 2025: Water laser show narrating 'Kumbh Katha' inaugurated in Prayagraj This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 January,2025 04:56 PM IST | Prayagraj | IANSThe UNESCO World Heritage Site Certificate of Inscription for Assam's Charaideo Moidams was received by the state's Culture Minister Bimal Borah in Paris on Monday. The certificate for 'Moidams - The mound burial system of Ahom dynasty' was given by UNESCO's Assistant Director General for Culture Ernesto Ottone Ramirez in the presence of India's ambassador to France Vishal B Sharma. "Indeed, an immensely priceless gift on the eve of Magh Bihu – The Charaideo Moidams are now officially Bharat’s 43rd World Heritage Site," Borah posted on X. Indeed, an immensely priceless gift on the eve of Magh Bihu – The Charaideo Moidams are now officially Bharat’s 43rd World Heritage SiteMy heartfelt gratitude to Hon'ble PM Adarniya Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon'ble CM Dr. @himantabiswa dangoriya, under whose visionary… pic.twitter.com/TFKzfVaRmr — Bimal Borah (@BimalBorah119) January 13, 2025 "This achievement honours our past and inspires efforts to preserve Assam’s cultural treasures for future generations.," he added. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for their support and efforts, which have culminated in achieving this milestone. Sarma said, "Bhogali Bihu wishes straight from @UNESCO and what's sweeter? We have received the official certificate of Charaideo's inscription into the prestigious World Heritage Site List. 2024 was indeed a good year for Assam and 2025 promises to be better." Moidams was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2024, making it the first cultural property from Northeast India to get the coveted tag. The decision to recognise it was taken at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in India. This development took the number of World Heritage Sites in India to 43, bringing India to the sixth position globally for most number of World Heritage Properties. Other than Moidams, Assam is home to two other World Heritage Sites – Kaziranga National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, which were both inscribed under the 'Natural' category in 1985. World Heritage sites are classified into cultural, natural, and mixed categories. Also Read: As 'Moidans' from Assam enters UNESCO World Heritage List, here's a look at all heritage sites in India About Moidams Moidams represent the late medieval (13th-19th century CE) mound burial tradition of the Tai Ahom dynasty, which ruled for 600 years. Out of 386 Moidams explored, 90 royal burials at Charaideo are the best preserved, and most complete examples of this tradition. The Charaideo Moidams, which are highly venerated, enshrine the mortal remains of Ahom royalty. Initially, the deceased were buried with their personal belongings and other paraphernalia, but after the 18th century, the Ahom rulers adopted the Hindu method of cremation and later entombed the bones and ashes in the Moidams. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2025 04:37 PM IST | Paris | mid-day online correspondentOverwhelmed by the huge crowds at the Maha Kumbh, Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, was briefly indisposed but is recovering after 'Ganga snan' and rest. Her enthusiasm to learn about Sanatan Dharma remains strong, according to a statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday. The billionaire businesswoman-philanthropist has been given a new name, 'Kamla', by her guru Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri of the Niranjani Akhara. "Laurene was briefly unwell on Monday but is feeling better after 'Ganga Snan' and rest. Her enthusiasm to delve deeper into Sanatan Dharma remains strong," the government statement quoted Swami Kailashanand as saying. Swami Kailashanand told PTI Videos that she faced some health issues due to the crowds. He described his newest disciple as a "simple, virtuous, and humble" woman with a keen interest in Sanatan Dharma. "She is free from ego and fully devoted to her guru," he said. "All her questions revolve around Sanatan Dharma and she finds great joy and satisfaction in the answers," he added. Mahant Ravindra Puri, chief of Panchayati Akhara Shri Niranjani, said that Laurene's quest for spirituality brought her to the Maha Kumbh. "She has a new name here, Kamla. She is very simple, soft and bereft of ego and is here as she was inspired by the timeless sanatani culture," said Puri, who is also the president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), the apex body of 13 monastic Hindu orders. "Her quest for spirituality brought her here. The way she has conducted herself in the akhara makes it clear that despite being among the world's richest and most famous, she is sans all ego and does not show-off. Here she dresses simply and conducts herself gracefully," he added. Barring a few short video clips of her that were shared by news outlets last week, Laurene has largely avoided the media at the world's largest religious gathering so far. In the video clips that were shared online on Saturday, she is seen dressed in a peach-yellow salwar suit with a saffron stole and a Rudraksha necklace around her neck. "She maintains a low profile. The day before yesterday (on Sunday), I asked her to come and sit on the dais during an event but she remained seated at the back," Puri said. "She has come here to witness our ageless and timeless sanatani culture, the core of all consciousness. She is also here to meet the sentinels of the sanatani faith, the saints and seers," he said. Puri, who is also the president of the Mansa Devi Mandir Trust, Haridwar, said Laurene has come to the Kumbh for the first time. Asked how long she will be staying her, Puri said, "She came to our place, Niranjani Akahra, on Sunday and would be staying here for a few days."
14 January,2025 04:35 PM IST | Mahakumbh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) | PTIThe people of Gujarat on Tuesday celebrated the festival of Makar Sankranti, also known as Uttarayan, with fervour.Kite flying is an integral part of this festival, and people across the state throng to their rooftops to have a glimpse of the colourful skyline or to immerse themselves in kite flying.In his message to the state the CM Bhupendra Patel said, "Salutations to Lord Suryanarayan and warm wishes to all of you on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. May this auspicious festival of nature worship bring prosperity, progress and happiness to everyone's lives, may our state and country attain new heights of development, and may the spirit of brotherhood in society become stronger."Meanwhile, Gujarat Tourism Corporation has organised the 'International Kite Festival - 2025' from January 11 to January 14. Events will be held at the Statue of Unity (Ekta Nagar), Rajkot, and Vadodara on January 12, and at Surat, Shivrajpur, and Dhordo on January 13.This year, 143 kite flyers from 47 countries, alongside 52 kite flyers from 11 Indian states, are participating. A total of 417 kite flyers from 11 cities in Gujarat are also joining the festivities. In total, 153 global kite flyers from 55 countries, 68 national kite flyers from 12 states, and 865 local kite flyers from 23 cities across Gujarat will be part of this celebration, the release added.This year, kite flyers from Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam are participating in the International Kite Festival 2025, the release mentioned.Makar Sankranti is being celebrated across the country with great enthusiasm on Tuesday. The festival marks the Sun's transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn, heralding the beginning of Uttarayan. On this occasion, bathing in holy rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna during Makar Sankranti is believed to cleanse sins and bestow spiritual merit.The day is also dedicated to acts of charity and devotion. Traditional dishes such as sesame-jaggery laddus, khichdi, and other festive treats grace the occasion. Kite flying, symbolising vibrant energy, and cheer, is a cherished tradition on this day. Also Read: Makar Sankranti 2025: Follow these easy recipes to make traditional and innovative dishes The festival is known by various names in different parts of the country such as Pongal, Bihu, and Maghi. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 January,2025 03:25 PM IST | Gujarat | ANIThe world-renowned three-day Jallikattu event in Tamil Nadu's Madurai kicked off on Tuesday, with Avaniyapuram village holding its first-day event which features 1,100 bulls and 900 bull-tamers. The best bull will be awarded a tractor worth Rs 11 lakhs, while the best bull-tamer will receive a car worth Rs 8 lakhs, alongside other prizes. The other two Jallikattu events in Madurai will be held at Palamedu and Alanganallur on January 15 and January 16 respectively. Strict rules and security measures are in place for the conduct of the events. According to the directions issued by the Madurai district administration, each bull can participate only in one of the three jallikattu competitions in the district. Each bull can be accompanied only by its owner and a trainer familiar with the bull. Bull tamers and owners of the bulls needed to register through the official district administration website, "madurai.nic.in". All submitted documents were verified by the authorities. Only those deemed eligible have received a downloadable token, which is mandatory for participation. Without this token, neither bull tamers nor bulls are permitted to enter the event. The Jallikattu events of Madurai, particularly those in Alanganallur, are internationally recognised as a vibrant celebration of Tamil heritage and rural valour. With preparations in full swing and expectations running high, this year's competitions are set to attract significant participation and global attention. The first Jallikattu event of Tamil Nadu for 2025 was held on Saturday at Thachankurichi village in Pudukkottai district. Pudukkottai district is known for having the highest number of vadivasal (entry points for bulls) and hosting the most Jallikattu events in Tamil Nadu. Between January and May 31, over 120 Jallikattu events, more than 30 bullock cart races, and over 50 vadamadu (tethered bull) events are typically conducted in the district. Jallikattu is an age-old bull-taming event celebrated mostly in Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal celebrations. In Jallikattu, a bull is released into a crowd of people, and participants in the event try to grab the large hump on the bull's back, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. The history of Jallikattu dates back to 400-100 BCE, when the Ayars, an ethnic group in India, played it. The name is coined from two words: Jalli (silver and gold coins) and Kattu (tied)
14 January,2025 02:38 PM IST | Madurai (Tamil Nadu) | ANIAs the first 'Amrit Snan' of Maha Kumbh 2025 is being performed on Makar Sankranti on Tuesday and several Akharas have reached the Sangam to take the holy bath, DGP Uttar Pradesh Prashant Kumar informed the total number of devotees who had taken dip in the Sangam has crossed the 10 million mark. Speaking to ANI, Prashant Kumar said, "It's the first Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh 2025, for now four Akharas have taken a holy dip and the third lot Juna, Awahan and Agani Akharas and they will be taking holy dip shortly. By 7 am, 98 lakhs 20 thousand people have taken bath and by now the numbers might have crossed one crore mark." "All our senior officials are monitoring through different control rooms including DGP, Chief Secretary and CM control room." The DGP further informed that apart from that, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti people in major cities across the state are doing Snan. "Snan for the Makar Sankranti in different cities including Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Ayodhya on the banks of different rivers going in a normal way as it used to happen." On day one of the world's largest gathering over 1.5 crore pilgrims had taken a holy dip at the Sangam. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday extended heartfelt congratulations to all the devotees who participated in the first 'Amrit Snan'. In a post on X, CM Yogi described this sacred event as a living testament to India's eternal culture and faith. "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!" he said. Earlier the CM also wished the people of the state on Makar Sankranti, "Heartiest congratulations to the people of the state, all revered saints, devotees and followers on Makar Sankranti! This is a festival to express gratitude to the Sun God, the father of the universe." Sadhus of the 13 Akharas of Sanatan Dharm are taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
14 January,2025 10:32 AM IST | Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) | ANIIn a boost for Mumbai's access to open spaces and green cover, Shantivan Gardens in Malabar Hill is all set to reopen for the public on February 1 as 'The Nest', a 1.2-acre urban forest that will act as a biodiverse sanctuary for nature enthusiasts. Revived by The Heritage Project in collaboration with nature:re and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), the urban forest aims to be a breath of fresh air in the city, which is now suffering not only from declining green cover but also open spaces for Mumbaikars. Ahead of the opening, speaking exclusively to mid-day, Radha Goenka, founder of The Heritage Project and director of RPG Foundation, said, "Just like we have our cultural heritage, we also have inherited our natural heritage, which we need to preserve. When I talk about natural heritage, I mean our forests." We as a city, Goenka says, are fortunate enough to have the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which is within our city limits. She explains, "It is unlike any other city, like for example, New York has Central Park, and London has Hyde Park, we have a forest. Why is it like that? It is because we inherited it like that in its natural state, and that's amazing." Goenka says when you have the SGNP, it has its climate. It could be hot outside but it won't be as hot inside. If it is raining outside, it will be less strong inside the forest as it trickles down the trees in the forest. It is because a forest naturally lets you regulate climate as it has its ecosystem inside that not only includes the bugs on the ground but also the butterflies, bees and birds play an important role.Also Read: Feeling 'Wanderlost'? Follow these five hacks to ease travel planning in 2025 With that being said, Goenka says Mumbai is also facing worsening AQI and temperatures, and the need for the forest is now more than before. "The whole idea that we have with the Green Corridor in Mumbai is to plant the same kind of trees that are in SGNP, which are native to Maharashtra. With that, we are also creating what is scientifically known as 'Stepping Stone Habitats', which means that when the birds fly out of SGNP, they have a place that resembles a micro forest, which resembles the Park with native species. By creating these micro forests, we are encouraging them to fly out of the park and thrive in an ecosystem through these forests across the city. Even the coastal road presents the opportunity to plant trees along it to create a habitat. Creating this would not be a curated garden but a forest to have an environmental impact. It is where 'The Nest' replicates the forest by having walking pathways that don't go through the forest parts of the area, but around it, to not disturb the habitat. Looking futuristically, Goenka says The Heritage Project proposes that there should be more urban forests than parks in Mumbai and around the country in the future. "It is not a garden that you can step on and walk, but one that you can walk around the green oasis," she adds. Radha Goenka, founder of The Heritage Project and director of RPG Foundation, says more native species need to promoted in Mumbai.The Nest has over 8,000 new plants and trees (350 species with over 200 native species) resulting in an ideal 70:30 ratio of native to exotic species. With so many different kinds of plants, ask Goenka which is her favourite and she says, "I love the Madhumalti flowers, which are fragrant and native to India. We have planted them along the entrance, and they are yet to grow but they will thrive and that's the beauty of it. The space also aims to be multi-sensory experience through thoughtfully curated zones – Bird Zone, Butterfly Zone, Indigenous Zone, Medicinal Zone, and Carbon-Sink Zone – each featuring its unique ecosystem and biodiversity. Last but not least, Goenka says with The Nest, the goal is to build a prototype not only as a private-funded NGO but more importantly for the government to adopt such a cause. She explains, "If the government converted open spaces with this kind of thinking, it would help." Beyond that, they have already started encouraging people to plant native species of plants and trees in their balconies to build the ecosystem. "With every person in the city planting native trees, it will be helpful as the cause but not without the government taking it up that you should plant only native trees," highlights Goenka as a call to action for everybody in Mumbai.
13 January,2025 03:03 PM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento PintoA 65-year-old French woman, Pascal, has reached Prayagraj to participate in the Kumbh Mela. Pascal, who resides in France, has been drawn to Hinduism since childhood, revering Lord Shiva as her idol and possessing knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita and Puranas. "I have a great attachment to the Hindu religion and Lord Shiva. I have no reason to express my attachment to Hinduism. This feeling comes from my heart," Pascal told ANI. Pascal's connection to Hinduism began in 1984 when she first visited India. Her experiences have left her so enamoured with the Sanatan tradition that she is considering becoming a sadhu. Pascal revealed her extensive knowledge of the Kumbh Mela and its significance, including the legend of Samudra Manthan and the drop of Amrit. "I know everything about Kumbh Mela and I also have complete information about Samudra Manthan. I also have complete information about the drop of Amrit," she said. She expressed her delight in meeting sadhus, sanyasis, and Hindus, saying, "I like meeting Sadhu Sanyasis and Hindus here." Pascal also showcased her Rudraksha necklace, a gift from a friend, which she believes offers her protection. "I am wearing a Rudraksha necklace around my neck which was given to me by my friend. Wearing it feels like it protects me," she said. She praised the arrangements at the Kumbh Mela, highlighting the safety, free accommodations, food, and drink available to all attendees. "Mahakumbh is amazing. Crores of people are coming here and I feel very safe here. Staying here is free, eating is free, drinking is free and sleeping is also free. All the arrangements are very good," Pascal exclaimed. The Maha Kumbh, the world's largest spiritual congregation, is being celebrated after 12 years and a huge turnout of devotees is expected in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26. To prevent mishaps, the district administration has been taking important steps to ensure the safety of the devotees, especially for crowd management and avoiding fire incidents. DIG Mahakumbh Vaibhav Krishna and SSP Kumbh Rajesh Dwivedi on Tuesday inspected the Kumbh Mela area. "Police are conducting their drills and rehearsals on the placement of force at different points in the Kumbh area. The emphasis of the police is to ensure that devotees face no problems," said DIG Mahakumbh Vaibhav Krishna while speaking to ANI.
13 January,2025 11:13 AM IST | Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) | ANIA major water laser show showcasing key events related to the Mahakumbh 2025 was inaugurated by the Industrial Development Minister, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, at the Yamuna Bank Ghat in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. The water laser show was held for 45 minutes and prepared at a cost of nearly Rs 20 crore. It was created by a team of about 100 people in just 60 days. The private company behind the project had previously organised similar water laser shows in Ayodhya and Jhansi. During the inauguration, Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi described the show as a historical and visually stunning experience, highlighting the beauty. Taking to the social media platform X, Minister Nandi wrote that the water laser show would be operated daily, with the Kumbh Katha displayed on the water screen. "Under the able leadership of Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, the water laser show of the Tourism Department, built at a cost of Rs 22 crore at Kali Ghat on Yamuna Bank Road, was inaugurated today by performing Puja and pressing a button. It will be operated daily. In this, the Kumbh Katha will be displayed on the water screen," Nandi wrote. "On the occasion, Regional Tourism Officer Aparajita Singh, Uttar Pradesh PCL General Manager Suresh Yadav, Project Manager Rajesh Sharma, APM Ganesh Prasad and Suraj Babu were present," the post said. The Minister also said that the show would provide an attractive and visually spectacular experience to the tourists visiting the Mahakumbh. "The water laser show will provide an attractive and visually stunning experience to the tourists visiting Mahakumbh. This presentation, decorated with a wonderful combination of water and light, will add to the grandeur of Mahakumbh and the audience will get to witness a unique confluence of spirituality and modern technology," the post added. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/08KX81hZ-dg?si=VuPKj57IfdPwBcYw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> The Mahakumbh is being celebrated after 12 years, and more than 45 crore devotees are expected for the event. During the Mahakumbh, devotees will gather at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, to take a holy dip. The Mahakumbh will conclude on February 26. The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami). Also Read: From travel to health, know all about the special provisions at Mahakumbh 2025 This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 January,2025 11:12 AM IST | Prayagraj | IANSLaurene Powell Jobs, the wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, is in India to attend Maha Kumbh 2025, slated to begin on January 13. On her way to the Maha Kumbh, to be held in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, she also offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. Accompanied by Swami Kailashanand Giri Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara to the temple, Laurene adhered to the traditions of the temple. She wore a pink suit and had a white "dupatta" on her head. Laurene offered her prayers from outside the sanctum sanctorum at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. "She followed the traditions of the temple...As per our Indian tradition, in Kashi Vishwanath, none other than Hindus can touch the Shivling. That's why she was made to see the Shivling from outside," said the Swami. He also mentioned that they prayed for the successful completion of the Maha Kumbh without any obstacles or difficulty. "Today, we have come to Kashi to pray to Mahadev that the Kumbh is completed without any obstacles... I came here to invite Mahadev. Our disciple Maharshi Vyasanand is with us from America. Tomorrow he is becoming a Mahamandaleshwar in my Akhara," he added. Laurene, who was renamed as 'Kamala' by the Akhara, will attend the Maha Kumbh. According to Kailashanand Giri, she will stay in Kumbh and is also planning to take a dip in Ganga. 'Maha Kumbh', the grand mela, will conclude on February 26 in Prayagraj. It is held once every 12 years. Meanwhile, in a bid to tap global tourists, the Union Ministry of Tourism plans to offer a toll-free Tourist Infoline (1800111363 or 1363). Besides English and Hindi, the toll-free Tourist Infoline will operate in 10 International languages to provide help, information, and guidance to make the experience smoother and more enjoyable for international visitors at the mega event.
13 January,2025 11:09 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSPrayagraj witnessed a large gathering of devotees at Triveni Sangam as Maha Kumbh commenced with the 'Shahi Snan' on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima on Monday. A large number of devotees are arriving at the bank of Triveni Sangam - a scared confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and 'mystical' Saraswati. Devotees took a holy dip and performed the sacred ritual on this auspicious occasion. A devotee Vijay Kumar said, "... The arrangements here are very good. There is an arrangement for everything - for food and accommodation... the roads are also good." "We go to Kumbh Mela wherever it is organised. I live in a small temple - I go to every pilgrim in India...," another devotee said. A devotee from Rajasthan's Jaipur, Chunni Lal said, "...I thank CM Yogi Adityanath and PM Modi; we all are feeling good by being here." "The government has made good arrangements. I am thankful to the media as well... We are going to take a holy dip," a devotee said. Meanwhile, NDRF teams and water police of Uttar Pradesh Police deployed at places to ensure the safety and security of devotees. This year, Maha Kumbh, the largest spiritual gathering in the world, has become more special because of the rare celestial alignment that occurs only once in 144 years. Traffic Police authorities have made elaborate arrangements and implemented a detailed plan to ensure smooth vehicular movement and safety for devotees visiting the Maha Kumbh Mela Notably, the entry route to the Sangam Mela area will be through Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (Black Road), while the exit route will be via Triveni Marg. During the major bathing festivals, the Akshayavat Darshan will remain closed for visitors. Parking lots for vehicles coming from Jaunpur would include Chini Mill Parking, Purva Surdas Parking, Garapur Road, Samyamai Temple Kachar Parking and Badra Saunoti Rahimapur Marg, Northern/Southern Parking. The Maha Kumbh is being celebrated after 12 years, and over 45 crore devotees are expected for the event. The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
13 January,2025 11:09 AM IST | Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) | ANIADVERTISEMENT
