Team News Riveting
Prayagraj, January 29
The mad rush of people to take a dip only at Sangam led to stampede at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj that left over a dozen devotees dead.
At around 2 am on Wednesday, a sea of tightly-packed crowds converged at the Sangam from all other ghats created along a 12-km long range of river banks for the Maha Kumbh. The massive crowd going to take the dip led to the barrier to break at the Sangam. It resulted in a stampede-like situation and there was no chance for escape as there was pushing from all sides.
The authorities and even the spiritual leaders have been advising the devotees not to insist on going to the Sangam and take the holy dip at the nearest ghat. The Triveni Sangam — confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati — is considered the holiest by Hindus, with a belief that taking a dip in it during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away sins and provides them ‘moksha’ or salvation.
Being held after 12 years, the Maha Kumbh kicked off on January 13 and will continue till February 26. The Uttar Pradesh government, hosting the fair, expects a total footfall of around 40 crore pilgrims at the largest spiritual gathering on the planet. This year, a rare celestial alignment called ‘Triveni Yog’ had occurred after 144 years, amplifying the spiritual significance of the day.
The ‘Amrit Snan’ on ‘Mauni Amavasya’ falling today is the most significant ritual of the Maha Kumbh and was expected to draw around 10 crore pilgrims on Wednesday. By the afternoon, over 4 million have already taken bath despite the stampede.
Even as millions of people were expected today, the administration has issued guidelines to the visitors asking them to remain patient at barricades and pontoon bridges and avoid rushing or jostling to prevent accidents. The administration emphasised that “all ghats at Sangam are equally sacred”, encouraging devotees to “bathe at the first ghat they reach to prevent overcrowding”. However, people rushed towards “Sangam” and broke the barricade that resulted in the tragic incident.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has once again appealed to people. “Mahakumbh-2025, Prayagraj, dear devotees, Please take your holy bath at the ghat nearest to you, and do not attempt to go towards the Sangam Nose. Kindly follow all the instructions given by the administration and cooperate in maintaining order,” Yogi Adityanath wrote in his post.
The Maha Kumbh 2025 has already witnessed over 15 crore pilgrims taking a holy dip in the past 17 days. Over 4.80 crore devotees took the snan on Tuesday alone – even more than that of Amrit Snan’ on Makar Sankranti (3.5 crore), the Uttar Pradesh government said.
