The 6 dates of 'Shahi snan' and the importance each of them holds

Shahi snan, the royal dip at the Triveni Sangam during the Kumbh mela, is a rather sought-after ritual. Every Mahakumbh, Purna Kumbh, and Ardh Kumbh, devotees, saints, and sages come from all over India, and the world, to take a dip in the holy waters of Sangam. It is believed that people who take a bath on certain days, the Shahi snan days, in the Triveni Sangam, are blessed with a new will on life. They change internally, their sins are erased, and their karma is improved. Here we mention the 6 dates of Shahi snan in Mahakumbh 2025, and what their importance is.

Mahakumbh began on January 13, the day of Paush Purnima, a full moon day. It is the day when the Kalpavas, a month-long period of spiritual practices, starts for a majority of devotees who visit the Mahakumbh. And having the Shahi snan on the first of Kumbh, on the day of Paush Purnima is especially important because the full moon on this day is considered auspicious, and it is said that the bright light of the moon is a symbol of inner peace and removal of impurities from the heart. A Shahi snan on Paush Purnima is said to remove all past sins and bring divine blessings to the devotees.

The next Shahi snan, also called Amrit Snan of Mahakumbh 2025 was on January 14, the date of Makar Sankranti. In traditional thoughts and beliefs, Makar Sankranti is the day when the cold, winter months start subsiding and the warmth of summers comes again. The days are longer and brighter, and people start to cheer up again. It is believed that taking a Shahi snan on the day of Sankranti removes any darkness and ignorance from the lives of devotees, and takes away evil elements that might be weighing them down.

The next Shahi snan date for Mahakumbh 2025 is January 29, the day of Mauni Amawasya. Evident by the name, Mauni Amawasya is the one where devotees observe not just a ‘no food’ fast, but also a ‘no speech’ fasting. ‘Maun’ in Hindi means silence, and on Mauni Amavasya people decide to keep quiet and sit in silence and contemplation. And it is believed that when people take a Shahi snan on this day, it does not just erase their sins, but also improves and sweetens their speech.

The next Shahi snan date in Mahakumbh 2025 is one of Basant Panchami on February 3. Basant Panchami is the day of Maa Saraswati and people pray and wish for knowledge, creativity, wisdom, wit and much more. The devotees, be it in Prayagraj, or in any other part of the world, wear yellow clothes to honour her and take her blessings. And a Shahi snan on this day is believed to bless people not just with good knowledge but also character and creativity.

The next Shahi snan date falls on February 12, the Magha Purnima day. Maghi Purnima is a day when devotees are advised to sit in meditation and help other people in the form of charity. It is said that when people do a Shahi snan on the day of Magha Purnima, whatever they give and donate comes back to them in the form of blessings in some way or the other.

The last date for the Shahi snan in Mahakumbh 2025 is the day of Mahashivratri, February 26. Mahashivratri is the great night of Lord Shiva, the day and night when his energy and vibrations are the most powerful and can be felt by the youngest of Sadhaks, and it is truly the night of letting go of the material and uniting with the divine. To take a Shahi snan on this day is believed to help people transform themselves, remove all forms of ignorance from their life, and be a little closer to Lord Shiva than they were before.