India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
The
Uttar
Pradesh
government
announced
that
over
15
crore
pilgrims
have
taken
a
holy
dip
at
the
Triveni
Sangam
during
the
Mahakumbh
over
the
past
17
days.
On
Wednesday,
around
10
crore
devotees
are
expected
to
visit
Prayagraj
for
Mauni
Amavasya.
This
event
is
part
of
the
ongoing
Mahakumbh
festival.
To
accommodate
the
influx
of
pilgrims,
Indian
Railways
has
devised
an
extensive
plan
for
the
‘Amrit
Snan’,
the
most
sacred
ritual
of
the
Mahakumbh.
“We
have
done
meticulous
planning
and
learned
from
our
experience
on
13-14
January…
60
special
trains
in
addition
to
the
pre-decided
number
will
be
running
tomorrow…
190
special
trains
will
be
plying.
110
regular
trains
on
that
route
will
run
as
usual.
Train
will
be
available
every
4
minutes
from
Prayagraj,
and
this
is
a
great
achievement,” Railway
Board
chairman
and
chief
executive
officer
(CEO)
Satish
Kumar
told
ANI.
Security
Measures
Enhanced
Security
has
been
significantly
heightened
with
personnel
stationed
at
every
corner,
aided
by
AI-powered
CCTV
cameras
and
drones
monitoring
the
Mela
area.
The
region
spans
several
hectares
along
the
Triveni
Sangam,
where
the
Ganga,
Yamuna,
and
mythical
Saraswati
rivers
meet.
The
state
government
has
declared
it
a
no-vehicle
zone
for
a
few
days.
The
district
magistrate
of
Prayagraj,
Ravindra
Kumar
Mandar,
urged
residents
to
use
two-wheelers
or
walk
to
ease
pilgrim
movement.
He
advised
using
four-wheelers
only
if
transporting
senior
citizens
to
the
Sangam.
This
measure
aims
to
facilitate
smoother
travel
for
visitors
arriving
from
across
the
globe.
Amrit
Snan:
A
Sacred
Ritual
The
Amrit
Snan
is
considered
the
grandest
ritual
of
the
Maha
Kumbh
Mela,
drawing
millions
worldwide
to
Triveni
Sangam’s
banks.
The
procession
of
saints
and
ascetics
from
various
akharas
is
a
major
attraction.
Astrological
combinations
of
celestial
bodies
determine
its
dates,
believed
to
enhance
spiritual
power.
On
Makar
Sankranti
alone,
which
fell
on
January
14,
about
3.5
crore
devotees
participated
in
this
sacred
bath
known
as
Amrit
Snan.
By
Tuesday
morning
at
8
AM,
over
45
lakh
devotees
had
already
taken
their
holy
dip.
The
state
government
plans
a
flower
petal
shower
from
helicopters
at
6:45
AM
on
Wednesday
to
mark
Mauni
Amavasya.
Mauni
Amavasya:
A
Day
of
Silence
Mauni
Amavasya
occurs
on
Magh
Krishna
Amavasya
in
the
Hindu
calendar
and
is
deemed
highly
auspicious
among
all
bathing
dates.
It
is
believed
that
on
this
day,
river
waters
transform
into
‘Amrit.’ Known
as
‘Amavasya
of
Saints,’
this
bath
is
traditionally
performed
in
silence.
“Officers
and
railway
staff
are
deployed
and
on
alert.
We
are
taking
updates
from
them
every
minute.
The
war
room
has
been
activated…
We
expect
at
least
10
crore
visitors
tomorrow…
All
our
machinery
is
very
active
and
in
coordination
with
the
state
government…
8000-10000
RPF
personnel
are
deployed
for
the
ease
of
passengers
in
trains
and
railway
station,” Kumar
added.
