Welcome to the Mahakumbh, the Holy month of Magh

Pt. Bhanupratapnarain Mishra
Magha is considered to be the month that provides salvation. This year, there is also a Maha Kumbh. By the way, while praising the month of Magha, Saint Tulsidas has written in the Balkhand of Shri Ramcharitmanas that-
Magh makar gati ravi jab hoi, tirthapatihi aav sab koi ||
The holy Magh Mela has started in Uttarayan on January 14 as Makar Sankranti has started in Tirthraj Prayag. The Magh bathing has started from Paush Purnima on 13 January. While taking a bath in the holy month of Magha, keep in mind the following mantra of Padma Purana-
Dukhadaridra-yanashay srivishnostoshanaya cha.
Pratahsnananam karomydya maghe papavinashanam ||
Makarasthe ravau maghe govindachyuta madhava.
Snanenen me deva yathoktaphaldo bhava ||
It should be chanted.
Dharmaraj Yudhishthira performed Kalpvas on the suggestion of Markandya Rishi to bring salvation to his relatives killed during the Mahabharata war. Bathing here gives health and spiritual power. The followers of Sanatan Dharma know that the disciplined sadhana of the month of Magh alone provides Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha for eleven months of the year.
During the month of Magha, Sakat Chauth-Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat, Shattila Ekadashi, Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya come in Krishna Paksha, while Varadatilkund-Vinayaka Chaturthi, Basant Panchami, Sheetala Shashti, Ratha-Achala Saptami, Jaya Ekadashi Vrat, Maghi Purnima and Gupta Navratri also come in Shukla Paksha. From this day the days of the gods begin. Keeping this in mind, Gangaputra Bhishma sacrificed his body in Uttarayan.
By bathing in Magh Bathing, the sins located in the human body are burnt and consumed. Magh bathing should be started from Paush Purnamasi itself. It is necessary to perform Kshaura Karma before bathing. It is believed that sins reside in the hair of our heads. The best time to take a bath is considered to be when the stars are visible in the sky, before sunrise. Brahma, Vishnu, Mahadev, Aditya, Marudgan and all other gods and goddesses take a Sangam bath in the month of Magha. It is believed that the fruit obtained by bathing three times every day in the month of Magh in Prayag is not obtained even by performing ten thousand Ashwamedha Yajnas on earth. Those who live around the sea should take a sea bath in Magha.
Yatra kutrapi yo magha prayaga-smaranavitH.
Karoti majjanam tirte se labhet param padam ||
The zodiac signs of Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio under the influence of Saturn and Dhaiya and the zodiac signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius who are suffering from March 2025 will also benefit from meditating, donating, fasting on the banks of the Ganges for the entire month of Magh or at least three days and nights.