Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: A massive turnout of devotees took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj during the ongoing Mahakumbh festival on Friday. Drone visuals captured a sea of devotees braving the cold, with 30.29 lakh people, including 10 lakh Kalpwasis, reported by 10 AM. According to official figures shared by the Uttar Pradesh government, over 102 million devotees have taken the sacred bath since the start of the festival.
The Mahakumbh has seen an extraordinary turnout, with the milestone of 10 crore bathers being crossed just by Thursday. The state government estimates that this mega event will attract over 45 crore visitors, and the early achievement of 10 crore bathers reinforces those projections.
Alongside the holy dip, the morning Aarti along the Ganga ghats became a central highlight, with priests performing rituals using huge lighted oil lamps, while offering flowers and diyas to the sacred Ganga river.
Visitors from across the world have been amazed by the sight of people from diverse cultures and backgrounds coming together at Triveni Sangam for this spiritual gathering. Notably, several devotees from Russia and Ukraine—two countries caught in conflict—also attended the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj, spreading a message of spiritual unity.
A devotee from Russia shared, “I came here from Russia, and my Guru Maa came from Ukraine. Many of my Guru sisters and brothers have come from countries like Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Europe, and the USA. We all came here to take a bath in the Ganga, following the example of the deities and divine energies who come to bathe here.”
The devotee continued, “This is the biggest gathering of people from around the world, and we all unite here under Sanatana Dharma, regardless of nationality or gender—Russian, Ukrainian, or Indian.”
Earlier this week, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also took the holy dip at Triveni Sangam, accompanied by several ministers from his cabinet.
As the event continues, authorities are preparing for the Mauni Amavasya on January 29, anticipating another surge in the number of devotees attending the Mahakumbh.