New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) On the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya, thousands of devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj to take a holy dip during the ongoing Magh Mela. Adding to the spiritual fervour, flower petals were showered on devotees from a helicopter as they performed ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.

Despite severe cold weather conditions, faith and devotion remained undeterred as pilgrims from across the country arrived in large numbers from the early hours of the morning. Authorities made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth movement, security, and crowd management at the Sangam.

Explaining the spiritual significance of the day, a devotee said, “Today, a remarkable confluence of events has occurred. The Shravana Nakshatra rarely falls on Amavasya, and having it coincide with Amavasya today is considered extremely auspicious. This is the day of Mauni Amavasya, and there is a special practice associated with it: while taking a holy dip, one must observe silence.”

Mauni Amavasya holds immense importance in Hindu tradition. It is believed that observing silence (maun vrat) and taking a holy bath on this day helps in spiritual purification and attainment of inner peace. The day is also regarded as one of the most sacred bathing dates during the Magh Mela.

Renowned spiritual leader Shankaracharya Narendranand Saraswati also took a holy dip at the Sangam on Mauni Amavasya. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the holy baths on Mauni Amavasya, Magh Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh are considered especially sacred and hold deep spiritual significance for devotees.

Pilgrims expressed satisfaction with the arrangements despite the biting cold. One devotee said, “Taking a holy dip on Amavasya felt very good. For us, it is a mahaparv. Even though the cold is severe, all arrangements were smooth and we were able to do darshan without any difficulty.”

Another devotee echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Even severe cold cannot alter people’s faith. Despite the cold, people are arriving here in large numbers to take a holy dip on Amavasya.”

The showering of flower petals from the helicopter created a visually striking and spiritually uplifting atmosphere, drawing praise from devotees.