Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India] Amid the ongoing Mahakumbh festivities, thousands of devotees are visiting Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya, braving the cold and dense fog to seek blessings at the Hanuman Garhi temple and the Ram temple complex.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ayodhya’s minimum temperature is forecasted at 10 degrees Celsius. Despite the chilly weather, the Mahakumbh selfie point near the Ram temple has emerged as a popular attraction for devotees. One devotee remarked, “We are going to the Maha Kumbh Mela. Before that, we visited Ayodhya, and we are feeling amazing. This selfie point is of Maha Kumbh.”
The Ayodhya Municipal Corporation has prepared for the influx of visitors by providing shelter facilities and drinking water. Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi shared, “According to mythological beliefs surrounding Maha Kumbh, people who bathe in Prayag often visit the Saryu River to bathe and get a glimpse of Ram Lala.”
Meanwhile, Prayagraj has witnessed a massive turnout of devotees at the Triveni Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. On January 20, over 1.597 million people took a holy dip at Sangam, with the total number of devotees surpassing 88.1 million since the start of the festival.
Despite dense fog and cold temperatures, flight operations at Prayagraj airport remained normal on Tuesday morning. IMD forecasts a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius for Prayagraj, with fog in the morning and a clear sky expected later in the day.
Maha Kumbh, held every 12 years at one of four locations in India, is considered one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. This year’s event began on January 13 and will continue until February 26. Upcoming key ‘snan’ (bathing) dates include:
- January 29 (Mauni Amavasya – Second Shahi Snan)
- February 3 (Basant Panchami – Third Shahi Snan)
- February 12 (Maghi Purnima)
- February 26 (Maha Shivaratri)
To ensure safety, over 10,000 personnel, including local police and paramilitary forces, have been deployed by the Uttar Pradesh police. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has stationed a “water ambulance” at Sangam for emergencies.