Maha Kumbh: Admin requests akharas to stick to agreed time slots for Amrit snan

PRAYAGRAJ: Taking utmost care and being fully alert to avert any situation that could lead to unfortunate incident like the one that occurred on Jan 29, Maha Kumbh Mela authorities have issued an advisory. They are ensuring that the third and last Amrit Snan, to be held on the occasion of Basant Panchami, on Monday, is performed by all 13 akharas as per guidelines agreed upon by the akhara office-bearers.

Kumbh Mela district magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand, through a letter sent to Shree Mahant, Shri Nirmohi Ani Akhara, instructed police administration and additional district magistrate (ADM) Akhara to ensure the Amrit Snan was performed by the akharas as per the agreed terms.
A copy of the letter has been sent to police administration and additional district magistrate (ADM) Akhara, with DM Kumbh Mela's request that for Basant Panchami amrit snan, Shri Mahant of Akhil Bhartiya Shri Nirmohi Ani Akhara and Shri Digambar Ani Akharas stay at the designated place with Lord Hanuman's flag, players, band, etc., and leave only after snan of Shri Nirvani Ani Akhara leave the ghat at Sangam Nose at 11:35 am.
The DM states in the letter, "Police and administrative officers are requested to kindly ensure the guidelines are followed along with bathing as per the Amrit Snan timetable."
It has been instructed that number of Khalsas/Mahamandaleshwars/Acharya Mahamandaleshwars going for bathing with the akharas should be limited to the list sent to Mela administration. Moreover, number of places and vehicles going for snan should be as per passes issued by Mela police.
Importantly, amrit snan by akharas will cross the Ganga from Triveni Marg (Sector 20) over Pontoon Bridge No. 6 Triveni Dakshini and Pontoon Bridge No. 7 Triveni Madhya and reach the Sangam area (Sector 3) for Amrit Snan. Bathing will be at the designated Sangam Ghat by turning left from Triveni Marg Akhara Marg crossing. Parking facilities have also been made for vehicles of akharas in the Sangam area.
After bathing at Sangam, akharas will return to Garg (Sector 3) turning right from the Akhara Vapasi Marg and cross Ganga over Pontoon Bridge No. 3 Mahavir Ji Dakshini and Pontoon Bridge No. 4 Mahavir Ji Northern and enter Sector 20.
Unlike the first amrit snan on Makar Sankranti, the third bathing ritual by the akharas would commence over an hour earlier. On Jan 14, the snan commenced at 6:15 am, whereas the third amrit snan would commence at 5 am to allow devotees to bathe in the ghat at Sangam Nose for a longer duration, after it is vacated by the last, Nirmal Akhara, by 3:05 pm. On Makar Sankranti, Mahanirvani and Atal Akhara (the first to bathe) left their camp at 5:15 am, whereas this time these akharas will leave the camp at 4 am and complete the snan by 5:40 am.
"We have shifted bathing time of the akharas to an hour earlier and have also requested the heads of all the akharas not to delay their procession as well as vacate the ghats within the stipulated time of the respective akhara," said DM, Maha Kumbh Mela.