Crowds surge into Maha Kumbh on Shivratri day thronging river banks through out the clock, vendors selling ‘puja’ ware and security staff everywhere to manage the crowds converging at confluence point — the Triveni Sangam is where the lines between day and night blur.
Billed as the world’s largest spiritual gathering on earth, the mega religious festival of Mahakumbh is remarkable. On its last day, it attracted pilgrims from all four corners of the country.
Mahashivratri commemorates the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It holds special significance in the context of the Kumbh Mela.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva played a crucial role in the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean). This event led to the emergence of the Amrit Kumbh (nectar pitcher), the very essence of the Kumbh Mela.
LARGE GATHERINGS
The day attracts large crowds of devotees to the sacred confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. These rivers are considered holy by Hindus.
The total number of visitors to the fair exceeds the population of all countries in the world, except for India and China. Both countries have populations exceeding a billion.
From morning till dusk and midnight till dawn, the cycle of spiritual bathing at the mega gathering of humanity in this holy city goes on without a break.
The religious festival will end with the final ‘snan’ on Mahashivratri. And to make the most of the time left, a sea of people can be seen going into and out of the Maha Kumbh Mela area at any given time, many choosing the eve of Shivratri to avoid the massive rush during the day.
On this auspicious festival the ghats facing the Sangam nose, where the Yamuna, Ganga and the mythical Saraswati meet, and near the spot are buzzing with life with a surge of humanity rushing in with just one purpose , ‘Kumbh Snan’.
Massive crowd is seen hour after hour. Pilgrims jostled with each other to reach the river bank, and those having taken the holy dip struggled to find a spot to change their clothes. The banks are literally choked with devotees, young and old, rural and urban, men and women.
As the crowds continued to grow, many just sitting down at and near the Triveni Sangam, police personnel in uniform walked near the banks instructing people to not put any bags on ground near the edges of the ghats, and not jostles for space.
The rush at Mahakumbh kept increasing during the day and many got separated from their loved ones and friends either at the banks or at other parts of the Mela area.
The Triveni Marg connecting Naya Pul near Minto Park and the Maha Kumbh Mela area shows an ocean of people, some going to the ghats and others getting back.
The 45- day religious congregation, which began on January 13, culminates on February 26. Over 60 crore people have taken a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam since it started, according to the Uttar Pradesh government.
Vendors selling ‘Shivling’ Rudraksha garlands, water containers to carry river water, and ceremonial threads could be seen doing business the whole day
It was observed that the venue of Sangam gets a crowd of pilgrims throughout the day, the ghats are choked round the clock too. Sangam is always abuzz with life and the constant movement of people.
A food court just outside Maha Kumbh Mela area, and located along Triveni Marg is open for business throughout the day as were many streetside eateries and stalls, feeding exhausted pilgrims and giving them the energy to carry on their journey and faith in their heart .
(Dr Naresh Purohit is Principal Investigator – Association of Studies In Behavioural Science)
