Mauni Amavasya: Lakhs of devotees took holy bath in Haridwar, Varanasi and Prayagraj:Mauni Amavasya: Millions of devotees in Haridwar, Varanasi, and Prayagraj took a holy dip in the bitter cold. Thousands of pilgrims gathered at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar to perform puja and tarpan.

News Topical, Digital Desk : On the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, the religious cities of Haridwar, Varanasi, and Prayagraj witnessed a grand gathering of faith. Despite the bitter cold, millions of devotees arrived at the ghats early in the morning to take a holy dip. Amid tight security arrangements, devotees then visited temples for darshan and worship.

Thousands of devotees gathered at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar on Sunday to take a holy dip in the Ganga, perform puja, and offer prayers. Authorities ensured everything went smoothly with tight security, crowd management, and monitoring. A devotee said, "Today is Mauni Amavasya, and we are celebrating it traditionally. It holds special significance for family members and ancestors."

Varanasi: Fasting and charity on the banks of the Ganges

In Varanasi too, thousands of devotees took a holy dip at the Ganga Ghats on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. A woman said that this is Mauni Amavasya, the ninth day of Krishna Paksha. On this day, people observe a fast, donate according to their means, perform puja and pray. Vivekananda, the pilgrim priest at Dashashwamedh Ghat, said that devotees observing Mauni Vrat during the Krishna Paksha of the month of Magh come to perform rituals in the Ganga. After bathing in the Ganga, they take a holy dip, pay homage to their ancestors, and pray for their peace and well-being.

Prayagraj: 50 lakh devotees took bath

The third and largest bath of the Magh Mela takes place on Mauni Amavasya. On Sunday morning, amid dense fog and cold weather, a large number of devotees gathered at Sangam Ghat to take the holy bath on Mauni Amavasya. Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agarwal said that approximately five million devotees have taken the holy bath at all the ghats since 6 pm on Saturday. The crowds were larger than expected, but adequate facilities were available. The bathing process is proceeding smoothly and systematically.

Bathing started at midnight

District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said that the main bath of Mauni Amavasya is taking place today, and a large number of devotees have been taking the holy bath since midnight. The bathing has been going on for more than six hours and the process is continuing without interruption. Large numbers of devotees are present at every ghat and bathing.

33 crore gods and goddesses take bath

Astrologer Ashutosh Varshney said that the Mauni Amavasya bath holds immense significance. According to legend, 330 million deities visit Prayagraj and observe a silent vow while taking the holy bath, which underscores the spiritual significance of this ritual.

NDRF-SDRF and drone surveillance

Tight security and traffic arrangements have been made at the Sangam Ghat in Prayagraj. NDRF-SDRF teams, CCTV cameras, and drones are monitoring the area to ensure safety. Devotees said, "It's Mauni Amavasya, and we've come here to take a holy dip on this auspicious occasion. We left around midnight, and after completing the bath, we're now returning home." Many devotees praised the arrangements during the Magh Mela.