Religious grandeur was on full display as Kumbh began at Prayagraj on Makar Sankranti with 13 akharas seamlessly taking part in shahi snan along with 2 crore pilgrims. It was a historic moment for Dalits & Kinnars in what was the biggest show of religious inclusivityWearing sarees immaculately, tilak on forehead, heavy makeup and ornaments, when members of Kinnar Akhara created history at daybreak on Tuesday by participating in the Shahi Snan, they did it with the flamboyance the community is known for.Seated atop chariots, the Kinnar sanyasis closely followed the seers of Juna Akhara with which it had joined hands.Excited on being part of the shahi snan, members of the akhara danced to drum beats and chanted slogans on their way to Sangam as pilgrims from across India and locals looked on with awe.Speaking to TOI later, the head of Kinnar Akhara, Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi said, “I feel blessed. The feeling cannot be expressed in words. I was speechless in that moment. It is after ages that Kinnars got their due, this proves that the Vedic Sanatan Dharm is inclusive.”Sitting in temporary tent at sector 12 of Kumbh ground, blessing groups of devotees in between, she added, “The chief patron of Juna Akhara, Hari Giri ji saw to it that we retain our identity while joining hands with them. The same approach was adopted by Shankaracharya Prabhu Vasudev Nandan Saraswati of Jyotishpeeth. In fact, Acharya Avdeshananda said that he is privileged to have us here and would ensure that our dignity and respect is maintained. What more can we ask for?”“There were some protests initially but we were not here to fight with anyone. We finally got our due,” she added.Makar Sankranti was a special day for the community seers who have been putting up at Kumbh Mela ground as they took their first dip in Sangam — the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati — as members of an akhara.

Stay updated with all the Allahabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.