The sacred Maghi Purnima bath commenced early Wednesday, drawing millions of devotees to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The event, held with extensive crowd control and security measures, marks the conclusion of the month-long Kalpavas.
Approximately 10 lakh Kalpvasis, who had been residing in the Mela area for spiritual observances, will now begin their departure. The administration has urged them to adhere to traffic regulations and use only designated parking areas.
Since early morning, lakhs of devotees have taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam and other ghats. Large crowds continue to head toward the Sangam Nose for the ritual bath. Kumbh SSP Rajesh Dwivedi assured, “The movement of devotees is going on smoothly, and we are taking care of all (crowd) pressure points.” Officials emphasized that elaborate arrangements had been made to facilitate the sacred bath without inconvenience.
Strict Traffic Restrictions for Crowd Management
To manage the massive influx of pilgrims, authorities enforced strict traffic regulations. The Mela area was declared a ‘no-vehicle zone’ from 4 AM on Tuesday, while the entire city followed suit from 5 PM, except for emergency and essential services. Special parking areas were designated for public and private vehicles to prevent congestion.
Prayagraj ADG Bhanu Bhaskar stated that special police forces were deployed at critical locations for crowd management. “We have made elaborate arrangements during the previous ‘snan’ on Basant Panchami too. Our arrangements have been further augmented this time. More deployment has been done at all the pressure points. Along with that, we are briefing people to ensure a smooth movement,” he said.
A special traffic plan will remain in effect throughout the bathing ritual to ensure safe evacuation in case of an emergency. Real-time data from toll plazas and neighboring districts is being monitored to regulate vehicle movement. Local reports indicate that by 10 PM on Tuesday, 1.43 crore devotees had already taken the holy dip. Officials estimate that approximately 2.5 crore devotees will participate in the Maghi Purnima bath on Wednesday.
Massive Devotional Gathering Under Tight Security
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been overseeing the Maha Kumbh Mela arrangements from Lucknow. Visuals from Prayagraj captured the immense crowds at Triveni Sangam early Wednesday. The city’s no-vehicle zone aims to ensure pedestrian safety amid the overwhelming number of devotees.
A report in Jagran quoted ADG Zone Bhanu Bhaskar, explaining that the no-vehicle rule is enforced in areas where pedestrian movement is extremely high, posing safety concerns due to vehicular traffic. However, vehicles carrying essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medical items, are permitted.
According to the Vedic calendar, the full moon of the Shukla Paksha of the Magh month began at 6:55 PM on February 11. The administration continues to manage the event meticulously, ensuring a smooth and secure experience for the devotees.
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