Paush Purnima: Devotees took holy dip in Sangam praying for salvation

PRAYAGRAJ

The second  bathing festival of Paush Purnima was  celebrated in the Magh Mela held on the banks of Sangam in the religious city of Prayagraj, on Thursday. Around seven lakh devotees took bath till afternoon.from this day month long  Kalpavas has started on the sands of Sangam with the bathing festival on Paush Purnima.

With the formal beginning of Kalpavas, the unique city of tents has been completely populated. The devotees are praying for salvation by following the rules and restraint. Let us tell you that every year in Magh, lakhs of devotees leave all the illusions and stay in the city of tents for a month. On this occasion the Moon and Goddess Lakshmi at night, one gets the special blessings of Goddess Lakshmi.

Despite the severe cold, devotees are taking a dip of faith in the Sangam. Kalpvas also begins with the bathing festival of Paush Purnima. Paush Purnima is considered to be the full moon of ancestors, hence on this day Kalpavas starts with the wish of salvation of ancestors.

The people of Kalpa do rigorous penance and chanting for a month in the tents built on the sands of the Sangam. The sequence of Kalpvas continues from Paush Purnima to Maghi Purnima. After taking bath on Maghi Purnima, Kalpavasi gather spiritual energy and return home.

More than 4000 running feet ghats have been built in the Magh Mela area. Magh Mela is spread over 768 hectares in 6 sectors.

For the first time, six pontoon bridges have been built in Magh Mela. For the first time, Artificial Intelligence is being used in Magh Mela. Magh Mela has been declared completely plastic free. Roads have been built by laying 100 kilometers of checkered plates. 200 kilometer pipeline, 65 kilometer drainage pipeline and 21 thousand toilets have been built.

In view of the cold in Magh Mela, arrangements have been made for bonfire and night shelter for 2000 devotees. It is estimated that 20 lakh devotees will come on the bathing festival of Paush Purnima.

Elaborate arrangements have also been made for security. ATS and STF have been deployed along with police, PAC, paramilitary. Water police, divers, flood company PAC, NDRF and SDRF have been deployed at the bathing ghats. The entire Magh Mela area was being monitored through CCTV cameras and drones.