MAHAKUMBH NAGAR, Feb 26: On this Mahashivratri, throngs of pilgrims from Gujarat to Karnataka gathered at Triveni Sangam, paying homage with a holy dip as the 45-day Maha Kumbh approached its conclusion. This grand event, which occurs once every 12 years, commenced on January 13 (Paush Purnima) and featured magnificent processions of Naga Sadhus alongside three ‘Amrit Snans’. To date, the religious gathering has attracted a staggering 64 crore pilgrims.
As the final auspicious ‘snan’ drew near, many devotees began arriving at the Sangam banks from midnight, with some camping out in anticipation of the ‘Brahma Muhurt’. A considerable number chose to participate in the bathing rituals ahead of schedule. This event, regarded as the world’s largest spiritual congregation, witnessed an influx of devotees from all corners of India.
Rajvir Singh Jhala, a 20-year-old BBA student from Rajkot, took his sacred dip right at the Sangam along with his mother and other family members, who had traveled by bus from Gujarat on Wednesday night. “To me, Lord Shiva signifies ‘Shunyata’; one must understand their insignificance before him. It’s essential to cultivate goodness within, for merely bathing in the holy waters will not cleanse any wrongdoing if one carries impurities inside,” Jhala expressed to PTI after his dip.
As pilgrims mingled and performed their rituals near the confluence site, security personnel maintained a watchful presence, managing crowd control to ensure safety in the bustling Mela grounds. Participants hailed from diverse states, including West Bengal, Karnataka, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, showcasing the vast reach of this pilgrimage. Additionally, a group traveled from Nepal to witness the Maha Kumbh’s closing day and partake in the holy dip on Mahashivratri.
Pinki Devi from Kolkata was thrilled to perform her bathing rituals around 3:30 AM on this propitious day. Many pilgrims joined in chanting “Har Har Mahadev” or “Jai Mahakal,” enriching the spiritual atmosphere at the Mela. Mahashivratri celebrates the sacred union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and holds particular importance during the Kumbh Mela. According to Hindu beliefs, Lord Shiva played a pivotal role in the Samudra Manthan (ocean churning), resulting in the emergence of the Amrit Kumbh, the essence of the Kumbh Mela.
This day sees a significant gathering of devotees at the hallowed confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, venerated by Hindus. On Tuesday alone, 1.33 crore pilgrims immersed themselves in the Sangam and other ghats, increasing the overall footfall during Maha Kumbh 2025 to over 64 crore, as reported by the Uttar Pradesh government. This remarkable gathering surpasses the population of all nations, except India and China, which each have populations exceeding a billion.
The Maha Kumbh featured six special bathing dates: Paush Purnima on January 13, Makar Sankranti on January 14, Mauni Amavasya on January 29, Basant Panchami on February 3, Maghi Purnima on February 12, and Mahashivratri on February 26, including three ‘Amrit Snan’. Due to the event’s magnitude and the large number of attendees, authorities established a “no vehicle zone” in the Mela area and Prayagraj, along with stringent crowd control measures to facilitate the smooth conclusion of Maha Kumbh 2025.
While overseeing preparations, DIG (Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna noted the extensive police deployment in the Mela area. He stated, “We are prepared to manage two main situations: the influx of devotees at the ghats, including Sangam, and crowd management at five major shivalayas within the Mela where worshippers will offer sacred waters to Lord Shiva.” He also confirmed that from Tuesday evening, the entire Mela area became a “no-vehicle zone,” with no special privileges for anyone on Wednesday. “We anticipate Wednesday’s footfall to surpass Tuesday’s count of 1.33 crore,” the DIG added.
