First bathing festival of Makar Sankranti of Prayagraj Kumbh is being held today. First Shahi Snan royal bathing of Akharas will also held on the occasion. Large number of devotees are continuously reaching to Mela area. Entry of vehicles in Prayagraj town has been prohibited. Schols and colleges are closed at Prayagraj and most of the adjoining districts for today and tomorrow. Most of the parking places have been full with vehicles near to Mela area.Prayagraj Kumbh has attracted people from all folks of life in huge numbers.Large number of saints and Sears, common pilgrims and tourists from across the globe are continuously reaching Prayagraj to take Holi dip on the pious occasion of Makar Sankranti at the Sangam the confluence of rivers Ganga,Yamuna and mythical Saraswati. Sequence of First Royal Bathing Shahid Snan of Akharas has been announced. It is one of the big attraction to the pilgrims and tourists. It will begin at 615Am. First of all Sri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani accompanied with Sri Panchayati Atal Akhara of Sanyasi sect will take holy dip at Sangam. They will be followed by Sri Panchayati Niranjani Akhara and Taponidhi Sri Panchayati Anand Akhara. Their bathing will be completed at 740AM. Sri Panch Dashanam Juna Akhara accompanied with Sri Panch Dashanam Awahan Akhara and Sri Shambhu Panch Agni Akhara from Sanyasi sect will take holy dip on 840 AM. Shahi Snan of Vairagi sect Akharas will start at 1040 AM and of them Akhil Bharatiya Sri Panch Nirmohi Ani Akhara will take holy dip firstly. It will be followed by Akhil Bharatiya Sri Panch Digambar Ani Akhara and their Bathing will be completed at 1210 PM. Bathing of Vairagi Akharas will be completed with the royal dip of Akhil Bharatiya Sri Panch Nirvani Ani Akhara at 1250 PM.
Lastly Saints and Sears of Udasin Akharas will take royal bathing. Of them Sri Panchayati Akhara Naya Udasin will take royal bathing firstly. They will be followed by Sri Panchayati Akhara Bada Udasin. With the bathing of Sri Panchayati Akhara Nirmal at 0420 royal bathing of Akharas will be completed. Heavy security arrangements are in place for smooth conduct of royal bathing of Akharas. Central Para military forces are deployed for the security of the processions for royal bathing. Bathing Ghat for the same is well identified and nobody will be allowed to take holy dip in the area marked for royal bathing. All India Radio will broadcast running commentary of royal bathing. Doodrdarshan will also telecast it live. At Prayagraj Kumbh Mela held at every 6 years and Maha Kumbh at every 12 years. Earlier they were known as Ardh Kumbh and Kumbh. But this year Uttarakhand Pradesh government has announced the Ardh Kumbh will be known as Kumbh and Kumbh as Maha Kumbh.Mela administration has set up 87 public accomodations in the Mela area in dormetry shape on economic rates to facelift the out station pilgrims. Other agencies have also developed high quality tent cities with all modern amenities to the tourists in different locations. Special tent colony have been set up in Arail area of the Mela Pilgrims and tourists can book tents as per their needs and budget on line through Kumbh Mela website. Eight kelometre long bathing that's have been developed at Sangam for holy dip. Mela administration has said that all arrangements are in place for estimated one crore 20 lakhs pilgrims on the occasion. Several dignitaries have also reached at Prayagraj to take holy dip on the pious occasion.