NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took holy dips in sacred river waters in the northern city of Prayagraj on Feb 5 as he joined millions of people at the Maha Kumbh Mela, a week after dozens died in a stampede at the event.
The authorities said 30 people were killed in the stampede on the six week-long Hindu festival’s most auspicious day on Jan 29, as more than 76 million people converged on the river to take a “royal dip”. Sources said the death toll was more than 50.
Devout Hindus believe that taking a dip during the Kumbh at the confluence of three sacred rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, which is believed to flow underground – absolves people of sins and brings salvation from the cycle of birth and death.
Live visuals broadcast on state and private news channels showed Mr Modi – dressed in a saffron sweatshirt and black sweatpants with saffron stripes on the side – holding on to a thick yellow rope for support as he took three dips in the knee-deep water.
Security personnel stood in the water nearby while thousands of people crowded the banks to watch the prime minister perform the rituals.
He arrived on a boat with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and changed his clothes on a floating enclosure before wading into the water. Holy men chanted religious verses as he performed the dips.
Mr Modi attended the smaller Kumbh Mela in 2019.
More than 400 million people are expected to attend this year’s Maha Kumbh Mela, making it the world’s largest gathering, officials say. More than 380 million have already attended in its first three weeks, they said.
An investigation has been launched into last week's stampede, which happened as devotees thronged the confluence of the rivers where a dip is believed to be particularly special.
Opposition parties have blamed the tragedy on mismanagement and accused the state government of Mr Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of hiding the real death toll.
Authorities have denied the claims and have since taken additional safety measures, including deploying more security personnel to manage the mammoth crowds.
The Maha Kumbh Mela is taking place at a 4,000ha temporary township – the size of 7,500 football fields – created on the river banks in Prayagraj.