On Monday Maha Kumbh Mela begins in Prayagraj with the Shahi Snan on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima. Devotees in large numbers gathered at the Triveni Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, to take a holy dip and seek blessings.
The Maha Kumbh, celebrated every 12 years, is the world’s largest spiritual gathering. This year, it holds special significance due to a rare celestial alignment that occurs only once in 144 years. The 45-day grand event is expected to witness over 45 crore devotees until its conclusion on February 26. Devotees expressed their gratitude for the arrangements made by the authorities. Vijay Kumar, a visitor, said, “The arrangements here are very good. There is everything – food, accommodation, and well-maintained roads.” Chunni Lal, a devotee from Jaipur, thanked CM Yogi Adityanath and PM Modi, saying, “We all are feeling good by being here.” Another pilgrim appreciated the media and said, “The government has done a great job. We are going to take a holy dip.”
#WATCH | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh | Devotees take holy dip as #MahaKumbh2025 – a rare celestial alignment that occurs only once in 144 years – begins with the 'Shahi Snan' on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima, today pic.twitter.com/n3VigtIfJ0
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2025
To ensure the safety of devotees, NDRF teams and the Uttar Pradesh Police’s water police have been deployed, and a special floating Police Chowki is also built to help devotees taking bath in the Sangam. Traffic police have also implemented elaborate plans to manage vehicular movement. The entry to the Sangam Mela area is through Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, while Triveni Marg is designated for exits. Special parking arrangements have been made at locations like Chini Mill Parking, Purva Surdas Parking, and Samyamai Temple Kachar Parking.
One of the major attractions this year is the affordable helicopter ride, offering an aerial view of the Mahakumbh for just ₹1,296 per person, reduced from the earlier fare of ₹3,000. The seven-to-eight-minute ride, launched digitally by Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh, is being operated by Pawan Hans. Bookings can be made online at www.upstdc.co.in.
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