Kumbh Mela 2019: Smriti Irani takes holy dip in Ganga, shares image on Twitter

Union Minister Smiriti Irani today took a holy dip in Ganga as Kumbh Mela began today with a Shahi Snan at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. The minister later took to Twitter and shared the image. #kumbh2019 #trivenisangam हर हर गंगे 🙏, she wrote as caption.

#kumbh2019 #trivenisangam हर हर गंगे 🙏 pic.twitter.com/MqQXDL5SN3

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) January 15, 2019

This year's Kumbh Mela is spread over an area of 3,200 hectare as compared to 1,600-hectare area in the previous melas. The endeavour of the UP government has always been to enhance the facilities for the public and establishing facilities at the ground level has been a big task, the minister said.

The Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred pitcher) is anchored in Hindu mythology. It is the largest public gathering and collective act of faith anywhere in the world. Ardh Kumbh is held in every six years, while the Kumbh Mela comes after 12 years. The Yogi Adityanath government has renamed Ardh Kumbh as Kumbh and the Kumbh as Maha Kumbh.

The mela draws tens of millions of pilgrims over the course of approximately 48 days to bathe at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati river.

The congregation includes Ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis and pilgrims from all walks of life. In all there are six auspicious bathing dates in this Kumbh - Makar Sankranti (January 15), Paush Poornima (January 21), Mauni Amawasya (February 4), Basant Panchami (February 10), Maghi Poornima (February 19) and Mahashivratri (March 4).