Lakhs of devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam for a holy dip on Maghi Purnima at the Maha Kumbh Mela early Wednesday. The bathing ritual also marks the conclusion of the month-long Kalpavas. Around 10 lakh Kalpvasis, who had been observing religious vows at the fair, are set to leave the Kumbh area.
The event took place under tight security with detailed traffic and crowd control measures in place. Authorities urged them to follow traffic rules and use only designated parking spaces.
Lakhs of pilgrims have already taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam and other ghats since early morning. More devotees continue to arrive at the Sangam Nose, a key bathing site.
Security and Crowd Control Strengthened
Kumbh SSP Rajesh Dwivedi said the movement of devotees has been smooth. "We are closely monitoring crowd pressure points and have made additional arrangements. More personnel have been deployed to manage the flow of pilgrims," he said.
Officials confirmed that security had been reinforced since the last major snan on Basant Panchami. Additional police forces were posted at key locations to ensure order and assist devotees.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his greetings to pilgrims and state residents. "Heartiest greetings to all the revered saints, religious leaders, Kalpvasis, and devotees gathered at the Maha Kumbh 2025. May Lord Shri Hari bless everyone with happiness and prosperity. May Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, and Maa Saraswati fulfill everyone’s wishes," he posted on social media.
Adityanath has been monitoring the event from a war room set up at his official residence in Lucknow. Officials at the war room are providing him with regular updates on the situation.
Traffic Restrictions and Transport Arrangements
The Kumbh fair area was declared a no-vehicle zone from 4 a.m. on Tuesday. The restriction was later expanded to cover the entire city of Prayagraj from 5 p.m. Emergency and essential services were exempt from the order.
Authorities set up designated parking areas for public and private vehicles to prevent congestion. Kalpvasis' vehicles were also restricted from entering or exiting the fairground.
Prayagraj ADG Bhanu Bhaskar said police forces had been stationed at locations where crowd control posed challenges. Officials were collecting real-time data from toll plazas and nearby districts to regulate incoming vehicles and monitor key routes.
The Uttar Pradesh transport department deployed 1,200 additional shuttle buses to help pilgrims return home. These buses are running at intervals of 10 minutes to ease travel from the fairground.
Devotees Express Gratitude
Srinivas, a pilgrim from Andhra Pradesh, praised the arrangements. "The Uttar Pradesh government has done a great job. Many thanks to Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Modi. This is a divine experience," he said.
Another devotee, Gayatri, expressed her joy at being part of the gathering. "I feel blessed to be here. The arrangements are excellent. As a Hindu, this is the first time I have truly felt connected to my faith. People have shown unity and devotion," she said.
Maha Kumbh Nears Conclusion
The Uttar Pradesh government stated that only 14 days remain before the Maha Kumbh ends. More than 45 crore people have taken a dip in the Sangam since the event began on January 13.
The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26 with the final Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mahashivratri.