The Aryavarth Express
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh):
A massive influx of devotees continued at the Magh Mela Kshetra in Prayagraj on Monday, with pilgrims arriving in large numbers to take a holy dip at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.
Devotees expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the administration. Ravi Shukla, who travelled from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh, said the facilities provided by the government ensured a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience. “It was a wonderful experience. Everything went well. I took a dip in the holy Ganga yesterday and came again today. The government has made good arrangements for the devotees, and I did not face any problems,” he said.
Another devotee, Aadarsh Shukla, echoed similar sentiments, praising the arrangements at the mela. “The government has taken care of all the arrangements amazingly. It was a very good experience,” he said.
Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agarwal said on Sunday that an overwhelming number of pilgrims had already participated in the sacred ritual. “On the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, more than three crore devotees have already taken a holy dip. There is a continuous crowd at the ghats, and everything is normal,” she told .
Earlier, flower petals were showered on devotees taking part in the ritual bath at the Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. A helicopter showered petals on the vast gathering at the ghats, adding to the festive and spiritual atmosphere of the ongoing Magh Mela.
Prayagraj District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said the Mauni Amavasya snan began at midnight. Despite dense fog during the night, devotees continued to arrive in large numbers, with the flow of pilgrims remaining steady since morning. He said that by 12 noon, around three crore devotees had taken the holy dip.
“The Mauni Amavasya bath started at 12 midnight. Even though there was heavy fog at night, devotees arrived in large numbers. Bathing has been taking place at all ghats since morning. The weather is pleasant and the sunlight is good,” Verma said, adding that the number of incoming devotees began to ease later in the day.
The District Magistrate further stated that the Magh Mela is being conducted in an organised manner, with security personnel deployed across all sectors to ensure the safety and smooth movement of pilgrims.
