
Maha Kumbh 2025: 15 Million Take The Holy Dip On First Day
PRAYAGRAJ (ANI) – The Maha Kumbh 2025, the world’s largest religious gathering, officially began on January 13 here, marking the start of a grand 45-day spiritual event that will continue until February 26. The festival, held at the sacred Triveni Sangam—where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet—has already seen a massive turnout of devotees. On the first day of the event, 15 million devotees took part in the holy dip, marking the auspicious Paush Purnima bathing festival.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated the devotees and expressed gratitude to all those involved in organizing the event. In his message, he thanked the Maha Kumbh Mela Administration, Prayagraj Administration, UP Police, municipal authorities, volunteers such as Ganga Sevadoots and Swachhagrahis, as well as socio-religious organizations for their contributions. He wished that the good deeds performed during the event would bring spiritual rewards for the participants.
The state government has made extensive arrangements for the Maha Kumbh, covering a sprawling 10,000-acre area. Key facilities include 150,000 toilets, 15,000 sanitation workers, 25,000 on-ground staff, 69,000 LED lights, and 2,750 crowd-monitoring cameras.
Underwater drones and AI-enabled cameras have been installed to enhance security, with over 10,000 personnel, including local police and paramilitary forces, deployed for the safety of the pilgrims. Additionally, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has stationed water ambulances at the Sangam to ensure medical assistance is available round the clock.
The Railway Ministry has invested around Rs 50 billion over the past three years to upgrade infrastructure, including new platforms, doubled railway lines, and enhanced facilities to accommodate the influx of pilgrims. The Indian Railways is operating 13,000 trains, including 3,000 special trains, to ensure smooth transportation for devotees.
The event is expected to attract over 450 million devotees over the course of its duration, and several key bathing dates have been marked, including Makar Sankranti (January 14), Mauni Amavasya (January 29), Basant Panchami (February 3), Maghi Purnima (February 12), and Maha Shivaratri (February 26).
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