Devotees flock for final holy dip as Maha Kumbh marks grand culmination today
Hundreds of thousands of devotees began gathering at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj for a holy dip on Mahashivratri, as the six-week-long Maha Kumbh Mela--held once every 12 years and believed to grant 'moksha'--is set to conclude on Wednesday.
Mahashivratri marks the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and holds profound significance in the context of the Kumbh Mela.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva played a pivotal role in the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), which led to the emergence of the Amrit Kumbh (nectar pitcher)--the very essence of the Kumbh Mela.
The occasion draws massive crowds of devotees to the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, revered as a holy site by Hindus.
On Tuesday, an estimated 1.33 crore devotees took a holy dip at the Sangam and other ghats in the Mela area, pushing the overall footfall for the Maha Kumbh 2025 beyond 64 crore, according to the Uttar Pradesh government.
The Maha Kumbh has witnessed six special bathing dates—Paush Purnima (January 13), Makar Sankranti (January 14), Mauni Amavasya (January 29), Basant Panchami (February 3), Maghi Purnima (February 12), and Mahashivratri (February 26)—including three 'Amrit Snan'.
Pilgrims from across the country have been making their way to Prayagraj to take part in the final 'snan'.
Security personnel remained on high alert through the night, closely monitoring the swelling crowds at Mahakumbh Nagar and the ghats.
Railway stations, roads, and entry points to the city witnessed a constant influx of devotees. Law enforcement agencies, including police, paramilitary forces, and disaster response teams, have been deployed in large numbers to manage the massive gathering, ensuring crowd control, security, and logistical coordination.
Surveillance drones, CCTV monitoring with AI-enabled cameras, and command centres have been set up to oversee real-time developments. Medical teams and emergency response units have been stationed at strategic points, with disaster management forces on standby.
Given the scale of the event and the sheer volume of attendees, authorities have enforced a "no vehicle zone" in the mela area and Prayagraj besides implementing strict crowd control measures and logistical support to facilitate a seamless culmination of Maha Kumbh 2025.
To manage the heavy rush of departing pilgrims, the North Eastern Railway (NER) has deployed additional trains and strengthened security at key stations. NER CPRO Pankaj Kumar Singh said 60 trains, including regular, ring rail, long-distance, and special Mela trains, operated until 4 pm on February 25, with 25 more special trains running on Mahashivratri.
Security has been reinforced with 850 RPF personnel and 290 commercial staff at Jhusi station, while Prayagraj Rambagh has 500 RPF personnel and 250 commercial staff on duty.
Mega mics are being used at these stations to guide passengers, and additional rakes have been stationed at key locations to accommodate the post-Mahashivratri rush.
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