Maha Kumbh 2025: Final 'Snan' Begins on Mahashivratri

As the 45-day Maha Kumbh nears its end, pilgrims from across India gather at the Triveni Sangam on Mahashivratri for the final holy dip. Starting on January 13, the event, which occurs once every 12 years, has attracted over 64 crore devotees. The last 'snan' saw many pilgrims arrive at midnight, with some waiting for 'Brahma Muhurt' to take the dip. The gathering featured grand processions of Naga Sadhus and three Amrit Snans.

On its final day, the Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest spiritual gathering, attracted pilgrims from across India and even Nepal. As devotees took their holy dips at various ghats, security maintained a watchful presence to prevent crowding. Pilgrims came from states like West Bengal, Karnataka, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, chanting 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Jai Mahakal,' heightening the religious fervor at the Mela grounds.

Mahashivratri, marking the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, holds deep significance in the Kumbh Mela. It commemorates Lord Shiva’s role in the Samudra Manthan, which led to the emergence of the Amrit Kumbh. On this day, 1.33 crore devotees gathered at the sacred Triveni Sangam and other ghats, bringing the total Maha Kumbh 2025 footfall to over 64 crore, as per the Uttar Pradesh government.

The total number of visitors to the Maha Kumbh surpasses the population of every country in the world, except India and China, both with populations over a billion. The event featured 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.'

Authorities On Toes, Strict Crowd Control Measures In Place

Considering the magnitude of the event and the large number of visitors, authorities have declared a "no vehicle zone" in the Mela region and Prayagraj, apart from imposing stern crowd control mechanisms and logistical aid to ensure a smooth culmination of Maha Kumbh 2025, sources said.

Overseeing preparations on the ground, DIG (Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna said expansive police deployment has been made in the Mela area. "We are prepared particularly to handle a two-pronged situation; one is the rush of devotees at the ghats, including Sangam, and the other is crowd management at five main shivalayas in the mela area where devotees will offer sacred waters to Lord Shiva," Krishna told.

He further said the whole Mela ground has been a "no-vehicle zone" since Tuesday night and "no VIP treatment" will be given to anybody on Wednesday. "We are anticipating the turnout on Wednesday to be more than it was on Tuesday (1.33 crore)," the DIG further added.