The march of the faithful to Sangam swelled to over 35mn on a freezing Makar Sankranti morning and bathed in the spirit of Maha Kumbh and the first Amrit Snan of a spiritual journey through this confluence of religion, culture and tradition. Last week's footfall exceeded the previous Makar Sankranti record of 2mn during the 2019 Kumbh Mela.
Their bare bodies smeared with ashes, flowers embedded in their matted hair, and their tridents, spears and swords held high, hundreds of Naga Sadhus from various akharas led the spectacle along the riverbank since the first light of dawn. Some arrived at the venue on horse backs.
Millions of devotees lined up along the corridors leading to Sangam for a glimpse of the sadhus as they awaited their turn to take a dip. The other two Amrit Snans of Maha Kumbh will take place on Mauni Amavasya (Jan 29) and Basant Panchami (Feb 3 ). The acharyas and mahamandaleshwars of the respective akharas arrived on flower-bedecked chariots mounted on tractor trolleys. Seers and members of the akharas walked behind them.
The procession of Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani was the first to reach Sangam for Amrit Snan. According to tradition, Bhaladev of the akhara took a bath first, followed by the Naga sadhus, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar and other seers.
After Mahanirvani, it was Atal Akhara’s turn. Eleven other akharas followed one after the other, approaching Sangam by the designated set of pontoon bridges and exiting by another after Amrit Snan.
Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani attended the Maha Kumbh with his wife Priti Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, and son, Karan Adani, Managing Director of APSEZ. They offered prayers at Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers meet. Adani also visited the ISKCON camp, helped cook Mahaprasad, and thanked the Uttar Pradesh administration, sanitation workers, and police for organising the event. Prominent personalites Ram Nath Kovind and Sudha Murthy were also present during the auspicious event.
Tents and huts gutted after LPG blasts at Kumbh
A cluster of 40 huts and six tents at the Maha Kumbh site was gutted in a fire triggered by successive LPG cylinder explosions in Sector 19 on Sunday afternoon, coinciding with CM Yogi Adityanath's visit to Sangam to take stock of preparations for Mauni Amavasya. No casualties or injuries to pilgrims were reported as fire safety teams swiftly evacuated the approximately 25 people inside camps in the vicinity, officials said.
PM Modi called Adityanath later to enquire about the fire, originating from a gas leak in the kitchen of the Gita Press camp.
The blaze was controlled within an hour and the area was declared safe by 7pm. NDRF, SDRF and police teams were part of the operation long with 45 fire engines and over 200 fire services personnel, deputy director of fire services Aman Sharma said.
Akhara expels 'IITian Baba' for calling guru ‘pagal’
Aerospace engineer-turned-sanyasi Abhey Singh, aka IITian Baba, was expelled from the Juna Akhara camp at Maha Kumbh for allegedly using abusive language against his guru Mahant Someshwar Puri. Juna Akhara said discipline and devotion towards the guru were paramount and that anyone failing to conform to this credo couldn't become a sanyasi.
"Abhey Singh's act goes against the guru-shishya (disciple) tradition and sanyas (renunciation). If you have disrespected your guru, you have shown that you don't have any respect for Sanatan Dharma or the akhara," said Mahant Hari Giri, chief patron of Juna Akhara. With over 100,000 followers on Instagram, Singh purportedly called his father "Hiranyakashyap" (mythological demon king) and his guru "pagal" (insane) in a reel that went viral. Soon, there was a clamour within the akhara seeking action against him. On being asked by his guru to leave the camp, IITian Baba took shelter in another seer's camp.
Babas making headlines at the Maha Kumbh
Apart from Abhey Singh, several other babas have gained social media attention during the Maha Kumbh. One standout figure is Rajgiri, known as "Ambassador Baba," from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. His vintage 1973 saffron-painted Ambassador car, a constant travel companion for over 35 years, has become a symbol of his spiritual journey. The fully functional car is integral to his presence at gatherings, with Baba driving it himself.
Another notable figure is Rudraksha Baba, recognised for his necklace of 11,000 Rudraksha beads, weighing 30 kilograms. Das Tyagi, also known as "Computer Baba," blends spirituality with technology, often seen carrying a laptop and watching cartoons.
A former chaiwala-turned-monk, who survives on 10 cups of chai, teaches civil service students via WhatsApp, without speaking or eating. Ramesh Kumar Manjhi, or "Kaante Wale Baba," is famous for lying on sharp thorns to demonstrate his endurance. These unique figures, among others, continue to capture attention at the Kumbh Mela.
