Prayagraj: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sacred dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati on Wednesday at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, giving the world a powerful message of unity.
The PM immersed himself in the Triveni Sangam amidst the resonant chanting of Vedic hymns. Before his ritual bath, he offered prayers to Lord Surya, chanted on Rudraksh beads and performed rituals honouring the river Ganga, river Yamuna and river Saraswati, followed by Ganga Puja and Aarti.
Modi later took to his X handle to pray for peace and harmony and described the holy dip as a moment of “divine connection”.
“Blessed to be at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The Snan at the Sangam is a moment of divine connection, and like the crores of others who have taken part in it, I was also filled with a spirit of devotion.
“May Maa Ganga bless all with peace, wisdom, good health and harmony,” he tweeted.
Earlier, upon his arrival here, the PM was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Adhering to sacred traditions, PM Modi first touched the holy waters in reverence before offering Tarpan and prayers to the Sun. Clad in a black kurta, saffron sash, and a Himachali cap, he offered ‘akshat’, ‘naivedya’, flowers, fruits and a red ‘chunari’ to the divine confluence, as Vedic hymns reverberated in the air.
Following the dip, he performed Aarti of the three sacred rivers. The Teertha Purohit present at the site honoured him with a tilak. After the Puja, Modi and Yogi shared a boat ride back to the helipad.
Modi’s ritual bath at the Sangam coincided with an auspicious alignment of celestial events, Gupt Navratri and Bhishmashtami.
While Gupt Navratri is dedicated to worshipping the Goddess, Bhishmashtami is observed for ancestral Tarpan and Shraddha.
The PM arrived at Prayagraj Airport in the morning and proceeded to the DPS helipad aboard an MI-17 helicopter, where Yogi received him. From there, he travelled to Arail Ghat and boarded a specially arranged boat to head toward the Triveni Sangam.
Accompanied by the CM, the PM was seen discussing the extensive arrangements made for the Maha Kumbh and the facilities provided for devotees. During the boat ride, he also acknowledged the greetings of the devotees gathered at the Sangam and waved to them.
Upon reaching the Triveni Sangam, Modi joined thousands of common devotees already performing their ritual baths. Despite the VVIP movement, there was no restriction on public participation, allowing devotees to continue their sacred dips alongside the PM.
The banks of the Sangam echoed with resounding chants of ‘Har Har Gange’ and ‘Modi-Modi’, reflecting the enthusiasm of the masses.
Since the Maha Kumbh commenced on January 13, an impressive 39 crore devotees have taken the holy dip in Sangam within 24 days.
The PM’s visit to Prayagraj came a month after his previous trip on December 13, during which he inaugurated 167 projects worth Rs 5,500 crore
