Prayagraj: On the auspicious occasion of Maghi Purnima, an overwhelming sea of faith was witnessed at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj as more than 20 million devotees took the sacred dip during the sixth major bathing festival of the ongoing Magh Mela. The turnout far exceeded official estimates, prompting the administration to strengthen crowd management and security arrangements across all ghats.
From the early hours of the morning, devotees thronged Sangam Nose, Ram Ghat, and other riverfront ghats, immersing themselves in the holy waters with deep devotion. Kalpvasis, who had completed their month-long spiritual observance, also began departing for their homes after the ritual bath.
The district administration put in place elaborate security measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the bathing festival. Personnel from the police, PAC, NDRF, SDRF, and water police were deployed across the Mela area. Continuous patrolling was carried out using motorboats, while strict barricading was enforced at entry points. The entire Mela zone was declared a no-vehicle area, and several traffic routes in the city were diverted to manage the massive influx of pilgrims.
Additional Commissioner of Police Dr Ajaypal Sharma said that separate routes had been created for the safe return of Kalpvasis to maintain orderly movement. Mela Officer Rishiraj stated that in view of the unexpectedly large crowd, magistrates were deployed at every ghat. The District Magistrate conducted a foot inspection of the Sangam area and monitored the situation through the control room.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his greetings to devotees on the occasion of Maghi Purnima through a post on social media platform X. Highlighting the spiritual significance of the Magh Mela, he described it as a grand festival of faith, devotion, and spirituality, and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and convenience of all pilgrims.
Maghi Purnima is considered one of the most significant bathing days of the Magh Mela, symbolising a unique confluence of faith, penance, and spirituality. The Magh Mela will conclude on February 15 with the final holy bath on Mahashivratri.
