Massive crowd for Magh Purnima snan at Maha Kumbh 2025; 25 quintals of flower petals showered on devotees
PTC Web Desk: The Magh Purnima bath at the Maha Kumbh is underway, drawing an overwhelming crowd to Prayagraj. By noon, approximately 1.59 crore devotees had taken a holy dip at the Sangam, with officials estimating the number to reach 2.5 crore by the end of the day. The influx of pilgrims has stretched up to 15 km around the Sangam area, causing significant traffic congestion.
In a grand gesture, 25 quintals of flower petals were showered on devotees from helicopters. Due to the massive turnout, the traffic plan has been revised, with vehicles banned from entering the city and the Mela grounds. Pilgrims are now walking 8 to 10 km to reach the Sangam, supported by limited shuttle bus services from parking zones.
To manage the crowd, paramilitary forces have been deployed at the Sangam, preventing people from lingering to maintain the flow. Devotees are being redirected to other ghats for bathing. In an unprecedented move, 15 District Magistrates, 20 IAS officers, and 85 PCS officers from across 15 districts have been deployed to ensure smooth crowd management.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been overseeing the Maha Kumbh arrangements from a dedicated war room at his official residence in Lucknow since 4 am. He is joined by DG Prashant Kumar, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, and other senior officials to ensure seamless coordination.
To control the swelling crowds, the Letey Hanuman Temple, Akshayvat, and the Digital Mahakumbh Centre have been temporarily closed. The administration has also deployed paramilitary personnel at the Sangam to maintain order.
Today marks the 31st day of the Maha Kumbh, with the end of the Kalpavas ritual. Approximately 10 lakh Kalpavasi devotees are expected to return home after the holy dip. The Maha Kumbh has witnessed four major bathing events since January 13, with an estimated 46 crore pilgrims participating. The final bathing ritual is scheduled for Mahashivratri on February 26.
Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar stated that this is the fifth bathing event of the Maha Kumbh 2025, with the final one slated for Mahashivratri. He acknowledged previous challenges on Mauni Amavasya and emphasised improved management strategies.
The state police have implemented advanced management techniques, contributing to the smooth movement of over 46 crore pilgrims so far. As of 10 am today, 1.03 crore devotees had already taken the holy dip.
The administration's focus extends beyond Prayagraj to key religious sites, including Chitrakoot, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vindhyachal Temple, and Ayodhya's Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. A dedicated war room in Lucknow is actively monitoring the situation with over 2,500 cameras providing live feeds. Additionally, Indian Railways has deployed over 400 special trains for major bathing days, along with 350 regular trains to accommodate the heavy influx of pilgrims.
- With inputs from agencies
