Pilgrims thronging river banks through the clock, vendors selling ‘puja’ ware and security staff everywhere to manage the crowds converging at confluence point — the Triveni Sangam is where the lines between day and night blur.
From morning till dusk and midnight till dawn, the cycle of spiritual bathing at the mega gathering of humanity in this holy city goes on without a break.
The religious festival, billed to be the largest gathering of people in the world, ends on Wednesday with the final ‘snan’ on Mahashivratri. And to make the most of the time left, a sea of people can be seen going into and out of the Maha Kumbh Mela area at any given time, many choosing the night to avoid the massive rush during the day.
Around 1.30 am on Tuesday, when much of the country was sleeping, the ghats facing the Sangam nose, where the Yamuna, Ganga and the mythical Saraswati meet, and near the spot were buzzing with life with a surge of humanity rushing in with just one purpose — ‘Kumbh Snan’.