Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent the world a powerful message of unity as he took a sacred dip at the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati during the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh on Wednesday.

With unwavering faith and devotion, he immersed himself in the Triveni Sangam amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns.

Before his ritual bath, Prime Minister Modi offered prayers to Lord Surya, chanted on Rudraksh beads, and performed rituals honouring Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna and Maa Saraswati, followed by Ganga puja and aarti.

Upon his arrival in Prayagraj, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warmly welcomed the prime minister.

Adhering to sacred traditions, Prime Minister 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, with Vedic hymns reverberating in the air.

Following the holy dip, the prime minister performed aarti of the three sacred rivers. The tirtha purohit present at the site honoured him with a tilak. After the puja, Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath shared a boat ride back to the helipad.

In the grand spiritual gathering of the Maha Kumbh, where devotees from across the world converge, Prime Minister Modi’s devotion embodied the ideals of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. His ritual bath at the Sangam was a moment of historical significance, coinciding 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. This convergence of faith and tradition further enriched the sanctity of the occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Prayagraj airport in the morning and proceeded to the DPS helipad aboard an MI-17 helicopter, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warmly received him. From there, he travelled to Arail ghat and boarded a specially arranged boat to head toward the Triveni Sangam.

Accompanied by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the prime minister 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, Prime Minister Modi joined thousands of common devotees already performing their ritual baths. Notably, despite the VVIP movement, there was no restriction on public participation, allowing devotees to continue their sacred dips alongside the prime minister.

The seamless coordination ensured no disruption, creating a remarkable moment where Prime Minister Modi and lakhs of pilgrims shared the holy experience. 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 the period of 24 days, a testament to the well-managed arrangements.

Prime Minister Modi’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. These projects encompassed major railway station upgrades, ROB flyovers, road widening, strengthening and beautification.

Additionally, he inaugurated permanent ghats, riverfront development, sewerage and drinking water facilities, and power supply projects. Among the key religious and cultural developments were the Akshayavat Corridor, Saraswati Koop Corridor, Bade Hanuman Mandir Corridor, Bhardwaj Rishi Ashram Corridor, and Shringverpur Dham Corridor.

These initiatives aimed to enhance the Maha Kumbh experience for devotees and marked a new era of progress for the sacred city of Prayagraj.