Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 14: More than 5.1 million pilgrims and over 200 thousand Kalpavasis attended the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, with official data confirming the massive turnout. As of noon on Friday, nearly 5.3 million people had taken a dip at the sacred Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
According to data released on February 13, more than 491.4 million devotees have already bathed in the holy waters of the Triveni Sangam during the course of the Mela. The gathering at the Mela continues to be one of the largest religious congregations in the world.
In addition to the influx of devotees, over 400 thousand pilgrims traveled via 140 trains on February 14, further demonstrating the scale of the event. The sanitation efforts at the site have also been significant, with workers cleaning the ghats of the Triveni Sangam. Using nets, workers helped to keep the rivers clean, and according to OSD Kumbh Akansha Rana, 300 workers were part of the river cleaning campaign, with the aim of setting a Guinness World Record.
Rana stated, “A Guinness World Record is being created here, where 300 sanitation workers are engaged in river cleaning at various locations. We want to send a message to ensure the cleanliness of our rivers and water bodies. Tomorrow, we will create a world record in street sweeping, where 15,000 sanitation workers will sweep the streets together.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also issued strict directives regarding traffic management in Prayagraj during the Kumbh Mela. His office emphasized that officers would be held accountable for any traffic jams in the area, including Prayagraj, surrounding districts, and key pilgrimage sites like Ayodhya and Varanasi.
The CM’s Office issued a statement that read: “CM Yogi Adityanath has given strict instructions regarding traffic management in Mahakumbh. Senior officers should come on the road themselves. There should be no traffic jams anywhere in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Nagar, Prayagraj district, Ayodhya, Varanasi, and all surrounding districts. Ensure accountability at every level.”
Meanwhile, a significant number of devotees arrived in Varanasi on Friday for darshan at the Kashi Vishwanath temple after taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. Varanasi District Magistrate S Rajalingam remarked that the number of pilgrims is steadily increasing each day, and various resources, including barricades, have been employed to manage the crowd. NDRF and divers have also been deployed at the ghats to ensure safety.
As the Kumbh Mela continues, the large crowds of devotees reflect the spiritual significance of the event, with authorities working hard to manage the logistics and safety of millions of participants.