Magh Mela: One month's Kalpvas ends on the sands of Sangam

Prayagraj, 05 February. Lakhs of devotees took a holy dip of faith on Sunday at the holy Triveni Sangam of Ganga, Jamuna and invisible Saraswati on the occasion of Maghi Purnima. Along with the bathing festival of Maghi Purnima, the Magh Mela going on at the sand of Sangam in Tirtharaj Prayag came to an informal end and Kalpavas also ended today. By the way, the fair will continue till the festival of Mahashivaratri which falls on 18th February.

According to the Hindu calendar, Maghi Purnima begins at 09:29 on February 04 and ends on February 05 at 11:58. According to Udaya Tithi, Maghi Purnima is on 05 February only. Purnima has a very special significance in Hindu religion. On the full moon day, Lord Vishnu also resides in the river Ganga on this day.

After the sun rose in the day, the procession of devotees moved rapidly towards the Sangam. According to the Mela administration, lakhs of people took bath at 15 ghats of Ganga including Sangam. After bathing, people worshiped at the ghats and also gave donations. Till the time of writing the news, there was no news of any untoward incident from the Mela area and the bathing ghats.

Along with Maghi Purnima bath, the month-long Kalpavas ritual on the Sangam beach also ended today. From Paush Purnima, Kalpavasi Maghi, who are frozen here, start leaving for their homes after taking a full moon bath. The nearby Kalpavasis will return home by late night after taking bath. Most of the Kalpavasis will return home on Monday morning, while some Kalpavasis are preparing to leave the Mela area after taking a Trijata festival bath.

Police lines, traffic police lines, police stations, water police stations, fire stations, police posts and wireless grids have been set up by the police department to maintain peace and security in the entire Mela area. The entire Mela area is divided into two zones and six sectors.

In view of terrorist activities, CCTV cameras have been installed at main places of the Mela area. Apart from the police force, several companies of PAC and Rapid Action Force have also been deployed in the Mela area. The administration has also arranged drone cameras to monitor the fair area. Flowers were also showered on the devotees. On major bathing festivals, traffic is restricted in the fair area a day in advance. The control room has been given a state-of-the-art design for crowd control.

What is Kalpavas

The penance performed for rejuvenation on the sands of Sangam is called Kalpavas. This fast starts with Paush Purnima itself. On this day, after taking a bath in the Ganges, the devotees take a vow of Kalpavas. They start the fast by remembering Mother Ganga, city deity Veni Madhav and ancestors under the acharya of Tirtha priests. They sleep on the ground for a whole month. Straw and straw are their bedding. There are simple clothes on the body and religious books instead of the TV remote in the hands.In the midst of the chanting of mantras under the guidance of pilgrimage priests, by remembering Mother Ganga, Veni Madhav and ancestors, they faithfully follow the 21 rules of renunciation and penance. Along with this, near the door of their temporary hut or tent built in the fair area, these Kalpavasi plant basil leaves in the sand and sow barley. Water is offered here after morning bath.Lamps are also lit here in the morning and evening. After the Kalpavas is over, he will take it to his home as a prasad while going back. Devotees doing Kalpavas bathe in the Ganges three times a day and eat only once for a month. Do not accept anything given by anyone.Donation, Yajna-worship rituals and the fast of preaching and listening begins. These Kalpavasi (devotees) return to their homes after taking a bath on Maghi Purnima after a month-long rigorous penance on the sands of the Ganges.

This tradition of pilgrimage has been going on since ancient times. Prayag itself means, that holy land where many yagyas were performed in ancient times. It is believed that before the creation of the universe, Lord Brahma also performed Ashwamedha Yagya in Prayag. Dashashwamedh Ghat and Brahmeshwar temple are still present here as symbols of this yagya. Because of this Yagya, Kumbh also has special significance here, which is held every twelfth year on the holy sands of Sangam.

In the same sequence, every year in the month of Magh, a new town of tents and thatched huts is established at the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati, which is known as Magh Mela. Every sixth year, this fair is famous in the whole world by the name of Ardh Kumbh and every twelfth year by the name of Kumbh.