Brief chaos at Mahakumbh as devotees breach area barricaded for 13 Akharas sadhus during ‘Amrit Snaan’

The Jal Police and the mounted police initially struggled to manage the crowd, even wielding sticks to disperse the devotees.

Mounted police officers controlling the crowd of devotees taking a dip at the Maha Kumbh during Shahi Snaan in Sagam, Allahabad, on 14 January 2025 | Photo: Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Prayagraj: The first ‘Amrit Snaan’ at the Maha Kumbh on Makar Sankranti briefly saw chaos Tuesday as devotees breached the area reserved for the sadhus of the 13 Akharas of Sanatan Dharma. The authorities were able to restore order but the breach by devotees highlighted the gaps in the administration’s preparedness.

Although the Jal Police, equipped with modern safety and security gadgets, were deployed, they struggled to manage the crowd. Mounted police arrived soon after, sticks in hand, herding devotees away from the restricted sections. While the crowd temporarily vacated the water, they quickly returned to the section designated for the sadhus.

Mounted Police controlling the crowds at Mahakumbh during Amrit Snaan | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

When the Naga sadhus arrived, mounted policemen formed a protective circle around them, allowing them to take their holy dip undisturbed. However, again within 5-10 minutes, the devotees surged back in the restricted area.

Order was eventually restored and the police were able to move the devotees aside, which allowed the sacred ritual to proceed.

The sadhus then took the holy dip at the Triveni Sangam—a confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.

Speaking to ThePrint on condition of anonymity, a senior Jal Police official said, “We had made proper arrangements from our side, but the locals were not listening to us at all. However, we were able to ensure everything was brought under control.”

Earlier in the day, Prayagraj Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajesh Dwivedi had addressed the media, stating, “All Akharas are proceeding for the ‘Amrit Snaan’. Police personnel are deployed along the Akhara route leading to the ‘Snaan’ area. Police, PAC, horse-mounted units, and paramilitary forces are accompanying the Akharas.”

On Monday as well, the first day of the Mahakumbh, with lakhs of people surging towards the Triveni Sangam, there were instances of devotees attempting to climb barricades, but the police had succeeded in redirecting them to alternate routes. A senior officer explained to ThePrint that police personnel have been trained in soft skills to calmly manage such situations and guide devotees to the appropriate routes.