Magh Purnima ‘snan’ marks ending of ‘kalpvaas’ at Kumbh Mela, public holiday in UP today

Magh Purnima 2019: Today is the auspicious occasion Magh Purnima, which is also known as ‘Maghi Poornima’. It also happens to be the fifth and second last ‘shahi snan’ at the ongoing Kumbh Mela, which marks the end of pious Kalpvaas. The Uttar Pradesh government has declared a public holiday on Tuesday on the occasion of Magh Purnima and Sant Ravidas Jayanti. The order has been issued by Principal Secretary Jitendra Kumar. On Magh Purnima, there is 'snan' (holy bath) at Kumbh, while Sant Ravidas Jayanati was earlier a restricted holiday.

According to Hindu scriptures, it is believed that charity work done during this time are fructified easily. Hence people offer charity to needy according to their capacity on this day. This year, the Magh Purnima has special significance as it falls on the ‘Pushya Nakshatra’. On this day, the month-long stay of the devotees on the banks of Sangam, which began on ‘Paush Purnima’ will end today. Over 60 lakh devotees had taken the holy dip on the occasion of ‘Paush Purnima’ in the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The Kumbh administration has constructed 35 ‘snan ghats’ on the banks of Ganga. The administration says that around 15 to 20 lakh devotees opted for ‘kalpvaas.’

 

The day when the Sun enters into the Capricorn & the Moon moves in the Cancer is celebrated as the Maghi Purnima. Come & take a holy dip on this auspicious occasion in Magha month. #MaghiPurnima #KumbhSnan #माघी_पूर्णिमा pic.twitter.com/ulmWx1kjDb

— Kumbh (@PrayagrajKumbh) February 19, 2019

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).

According to the Confederation of Indian Industry, the mega Kumbh Mela is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 1.2 lakh crore for Uttar Pradesh Although the Kumbh Mela is spiritual and religious in nature, the economic activities associated with it generate employment for over six lakh workers across various sectors, CII said in a report. The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 4,200 crore for the 50-day Kumbh Mela this time, which is over thrice the budget of the Maha Kumbh in 2013, making the mega pilgrimage perhaps the costliest ever. The hospitality sector aims at employing 2,50,000 people, airlines and airports around 1,50,000 and tour operators around 45,000. The employment numbers in eco-tourism and medical tourism are being estimated at 85,000, says a CII study.