Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 24: Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy on Friday praised the ongoing Maha Kumbh, calling the arrangements “clean, safe, divine, grand, and digital.” She added that the event’s organisation could serve as a model for other governments to emulate.
Murthy, who arrived in Prayagraj earlier this week to participate in the Kumbh festivities, expressed her admiration for the scale and management of the event. “It has been arranged very well. It is clean, safe, divine, grand, and digital. This is my first Kumbh, and the arrangements are excellent. All governments can follow this model. It has been a wonderful experience,” she said.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, drone footage captured a sea of devotees taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the Maha Kumbh. Despite the chilly weather, over 30.29 lakh devotees, including 10 lakh ‘Kalpwasis,’ had bathed by 10 am, according to official data from the Uttar Pradesh government.
Since the start of the Maha Kumbh, more than 102 million people have participated in the sacred ritual. The event has seen a record turnout, surpassing 10 crore bathers by Thursday. The state government estimates that over 45 crore visitors will attend the Maha Kumbh, with the early achievement of 10 crore bathers confirming these projections.
In addition to the holy dips, the morning Aarti, a cherished devotional tradition at the Ganga ghats, was performed by priests holding large oil lamps while offering flowers and diyas to the river.
Visitors from across the world have been mesmerised by the diverse gathering of people at the Sangam, where individuals of various languages, lifestyles, and traditions come together for the holy dip.
Authorities are making special arrangements for the upcoming Mauni Amavasya on January 29, which is expected to draw massive crowds. The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will continue until February 26, with key bathing dates including January 29 (Mauni Amavasya – Second Shahi Snan), February 3 (Basant Panchami – Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).