Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Tuesday visited the Maha Kumbh and took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam.
Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the king performed several rituals, including offering 'arghya' to the Sun before entering the sacred waters.
The King, who arrived at the airport wearing a formal Gho (the traditional Bhutanese dress for men) and Kera (a belt), was welcomed with an orange stole by Adityanath.
Later, King Wangchuck was seen wearing a saffron-colored kurta and pyjama as he took the holy dip in the Triveni Sangam. Alongside the King and Chief Minister Adityanath were Uttar Pradesh ministers Swatantra Dev Singh and Nand Gopal Gupta, along with newly-appointed Mahamandaleshwar Santosh Das ji Maharaj (Satua Baba). This event was captured in pictures shared by the state government.
King Wangchuck, who arrived in Lucknow on Monday, was greeted with cultural performances by local artistes. He then visited Raj Bhavan, where he was hosted by Governor Anandiben Patel.
During this visit, he paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi's statue. The King, the Governor, and the Chief Minister had detailed discussions about India-Bhutan relations. The state government expressed that the visit would strengthen the cultural ties and friendship between India and Bhutan.
In December 2024 and March 2024, King Wangchuck and Queen of Bhutan had previously visited Delhi. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Bhutan's highest civilian honor, the 'Order of Druk Gyalpo'.
By 12 noon on Tuesday, more than 54 lakh devotees had taken part in the Maha Kumbh, with the total number of devotees who have participated since January 13 reaching over 37.5 crore. The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26.