Magh Mela snan for kalpwasis who stayed back

Allahabad: Apart from the five snans that draw devotees from all across the world to the Magh Mela, there is one more few know about — the Trijata snan. As per tradition, kalpwasis who stay back on the Magh Mela ground even after the end of their month-long penance take a dip in Sangam during the Trijata snan. The snan will be observed on Tuesday.
City-based religious scholar Ashutosh Varshney said, “Most kalpwasis leave for home after after taking a dip in Ganga during the Maghi Purnima snan. As the Hindu month of Magh culminates after Maghi Purnima, some kalpwasis wait for the right muhurat (auspicious period) for returning after a special snan called the Trijata snan.”
Varshney said that Trijata was a demoness in Ramayan, who was assigned the duty of guarding Sita in Ashok Vatika after Ravana abducted her.
He also said that Ram and Sita had given Trijata a vardan (boon) before returning to Ayodhya. “According to Hindu mythology, Ram and Sita said that any one who takes three dips in Ganga after Magh ends in the name of Trijata will gain punya equivalent to a month of kalpwas,” Varshney said.
“It is also believed that kalpwasis can atone for all mistakes and sins committed during their stay by taking a dip in Ganga during Trijata snan.” he added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees continued to leave the Magh Mela ground after taking holy dips in Sangam on Monday. The deployment of police forces on the venue helped in managing the crowd. Traffic police also enforced diversions to regulate traffic.