Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: A massive crowd of devotees gathered at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Saturday to take a holy dip at the sacred Triveni Sangam.
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, more than 3.324 million devotees had bathed in the Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—by 9 AM today. The total number of participants so far has reached nearly 501.1 million, making the Mahakumbh the largest spiritual gathering in the world.
Officials noted that the event has now recorded more than 500 million direct participants, surpassing the population of several major countries, including the United States, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
New Traffic and Bathing Guidelines Issued
With the rising number of attendees, the Uttar Pradesh administration has issued new traffic and bathing guidelines:
- Devotees arriving from the Parade Mela area can bathe at the Sangam and ghats near the parade area.
- Those coming from Jhunsi fair area must use the ghats built in Jhunsi.
- Devotees from Arali side will have designated ghats in the Arali area.
- A “No Vehicle” zone has been enforced across the Maha Kumbh Mela area.
- Only authorized vehicles issued by Mela Police will be permitted inside the event zone. Other vehicles must be parked in designated spots.
- Emergency services, including ambulances, food supply, and logistics vehicles, will be allowed entry.
The administration has urged all devotees to follow the traffic and safety guidelines for a smooth and secure experience.
Special Vande Bharat Trains for Devotees
To accommodate the increasing number of visitors, Northern Railway has announced two special Vande Bharat trains on February 15, 16, and 17 to facilitate travel for devotees attending the Maha Kumbh.