Overview
- The 18-day Mahamagha Mahotsavam at Thirunavaya runs through February 3, featuring holy dips in the Bharathapuzha, round-the-clock Vedic chanting, and an evening Nila Aarti by priests from Kashi Vishwanath.
- Organisers say daily attendance tops three-and-a-half lakh and expect higher footfall as the festival nears its close, with special train stoppages and expanded KSRTC services supporting travel.
- Naga sanyasis from Kashi and Varanasi are expected to arrive by February 2 for ritual baths, which organisers believe will draw even larger crowds.
- Swami Anandavam Bharati, a former SFI leader now a Juna Akhada mahamandaleshwar, leads the revival with patrons including Mata Amritanandamayi, and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar inaugurated the event on January 18.
- Officials deployed more than 300 police personnel and bomb-detection squads, and a dispute over a temporary bridge was resolved after an initial halt ordered by the revenue department.