PRAYAGRAJ, Feb 3: Millions of pilgrims took the holy dip (Amrit Snan) at the
Triveni Sangam (confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswathi)
on the occasion of the Vasant Panchami on Monday.
The auspicious event passed off without any untoward event, unlike on Mauni
Amavasya on January 29 when 30 pilgrims died in a stampede, as there was adequate
arrangements for crowd control, the police claimed.
Nearly a crore of pilgrims took the dip by noon. The administration is expecting
five crore pilgrims during the day. Since the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela on
January 13, the pilgrims number has surpassed 35 crore.
Various akharas like Mahanirvani Akhara, Niranjani Akhara, Juna Akhara and
others have performed their the Amrit Snan. All the 13 Akharas came to the ghat
one by one to take the third Amrit Snan of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Basant Panchami
in the morning.
Flower petals were showered on the saints taking the holy dip by a helicopter.
The Government had declared a holiday for Monday to ensure law and order in
view of the unprecedented rush for holy dip on the auspicious day of the Panchami.
About 200 pilgrims from abroad also participated in the prayers and took the
holy dip.
What is Vasant Panchami: The day is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi,
the deity of wisdom, learning and arts. The day also marks the arrival of spring.
What is Shahi Snan, Amrit Snan: The holy dip is the main ritual of a
Maha Kumbh Mela. It is believed that a bath in the holy waters any day during
the Mela period lasting 45 days cleanses one's sins and liberates him from the
cycle of rebirth, ie, attaining Moksha or salvation. Dips by the saints on the
most auspicious days during the Kumbh are called Shahi Snan or Royal Bath or
Amrit Snan. They will take the first dip in the Sangam Nose in the wee hours
followed by the pilgrims. The auspicious baths are on Paush Purnima (Jan 13),
Makar Sankranti (First Amrit Snan) (Jan 14), Mauni Amavasya (Second Amrit Snan)
(Jan 29), Vasant Panchami (Third and last Amrit Snan) (Feb 3), Maghi Purnima
(Feb 12) and Maha Shivaratri (Feb 26), last day of the Kumbh. The saints leave
the ghats after the third and last Amrit Snan.)
The celestial alignments occurring now is a once-in-a-144-year event marking
the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela a very special spiritual event. Otherwise Maha Kumbh
Mela occurs once every 12 years and Ardh (half) Kumbh Melas are held every six
years.
The Kumbh story: It is said the Devas (Gods) and the Asuras (demons)
churned the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to obtain Amrit, the nectar of immortality.
And when a pot of the nectar emerged, Lord Vishnu, disguised as Mohini, seized
it and fled to prevent the demons from seizing it. On the way some drops spilt
at four places and those places are considered sacred: Nashik, Ujjain, Allahabad
(Prayagraj) and Haridwar. Therefore Kumbh Melas are held at these places by
rotation.
