Magisterial inquiry begins into the fire at Maha Kumbh: Dhirendra Shastri said, “Don’t go for REEL, go for the REAL”; 2.3 million people bathed in the morning.

Today is the 8th day of the Maha Kumbh. By 8 AM, more than 2.3 million devotees had bathed. So far, more than 82.6 million devotees have taken a dip.

On Sunday afternoon, a massive fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela, destroying 180 cottages of the Gita Press. Krishna Kumar Khemka, the trustee of Gita Press, claimed that the fire was caused by sparks from outside. A magisterial inquiry has been initiated to investigate the cause of the fire.

Regarding the increasing number of ‘Reel-makers’ at the Maha Kumbh, Bageshwar Dham’s head priest, Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, said, “The Maha Kumbh is losing its focus; people should go there for the real experience, not for reels.”

All security personnel on duty have been provided with jungle boots and goma jackets by the police department.

From today, poet Kumar Vishwas will narrate the Ram Katha “Apne-Apne Ram” to the devotees. This will take place at the Ganga Pandal from 5 PM to 8 PM. Governor Anandiben Patel will also participate in several programs at the Maha Kumbh today.