The sacred Maghi Purnima bath commenced early Wednesday, drawing millions of devotees to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Elaborate arrangements were in place, with chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally overseeing the event’s progress from a war room set up at his residence in Lucknow.
The Maghi Purnima bath also marks the conclusion of the month-long Kalpavas, after which around 10 lakh Kalpvasis will begin departing from the Kumbh Mela grounds. The administration has urged them to adhere to traffic regulations and use only designated parking areas.
Since early morning, lakhs of pilgrims have already taken a dip at the sacred Triveni Sangam and other ghats, while a continuous stream of devotees is making its way to the Sangam Nose for the holy ritual.
Ensuring smooth crowd movement, Kumbh SSP Rajesh Dwivedi said, “The movement of devotees is going on smoothly and we are taking care of all (crowd) pressure points.” He added that security and crowd management measures had been enhanced since the last major bathing event on Basant Panchami, with additional deployment at key areas.
Yogi Adityanath extended his greetings to the pilgrims, religious leaders, and saints attending the sacred bath.
“Heartiest greetings to all the revered saints, religious leaders, Kalpvasis and devotees who have come for the holy bath at the sacred Triveni in Maha Kumbh-2025, Prayagraj. May everyone’s life be filled with happiness, prosperity and good fortune by the grace of Lord Shri Hari. May Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna and Maa Saraswati fulfill everyone’s wishes,” he posted on X.
Authorities have taken extensive measures to facilitate a hassle-free experience for devotees. The fairgrounds were declared a ‘no-vehicle zone’ from 4 am on Tuesday, while the entire city will follow the restriction from 5 pm onwards, except for emergency and essential services. To prevent traffic congestion, designated parking areas have been set up for both public and private vehicles.
Prayagraj ADG Bhanu Bhaskar stated that special police units had been stationed at key locations prone to overcrowding. A special traffic management plan will remain in effect until the bathing ceremony concludes, ensuring a safe and orderly exit for devotees.Real-time data is also being collected from toll plazas and neighboring districts to monitor and regulate incoming vehicles. The state transport department has deployed 1,200 additional shuttle buses, running every 10 minutes, to aid devotees in their return journey.
Among the thousands who traveled long distances for the sacred dip was Srinivas from Andhra Pradesh. “It feels good. The UP government has made good arrangements. Many thanks to Yogi Adityanath ji, many thanks to Prime Minister Modi. Everyone has come to take a bath on Maghi Purnima,” he said.
Gayatri, another devotee, expressed her joy at experiencing the Maha Kumbh: “I am very happy to be here at the Kumbh Mela. I feel very good to be here on this auspicious occasion. The UP government has created a good atmosphere here. Actually, being a Hindu, this is the first time I have really felt like an Indian. People have shown their religiousness and unity has been promoted.”
The Uttar Pradesh government announced on Tuesday that only 14 days remain until the Maha Kumbh’s conclusion. Since its commencement on January 13, over 45 crore pilgrims have taken a dip at the Triveni Sangam.
The grand religious festival will conclude on February 26 with the final ‘Amrit Snan’ on Mahashivratri. However, the event was marred by tragedy on January 29, when a stampede during the Mauni Amavasya ‘Amrit Snan’ resulted in 30 deaths and left 60 others injured, as per official figures.
With the final days of the Maha Kumbh approaching, authorities continue to prioritise safety, ensuring a seamless experience for millions of devotees partaking in this spiritual gathering.
