New Delhi: The 45-day Maha Kumbh draws to its close with scores of pilgrims taking the final ‘snan’ at the Triveni Sangam on Maha Shivratri on Wednesday. Chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Jai Mahakal’ rent the air as devotees thronged at the confluence to take the holy dip.
Maha Kumbh, which takes place once in 12 years, started on January 13 and has witnessed a record over 64 crore pilgrims till now.
The ‘snan’ on Maha Shivratri is the last auspicious ‘holy bath’ of the Maha Kumbh. Devotees began gathering on the banks of the Sangam since the wee hours of Wednesday, and many of them performed the bathing rituals well before the scheduled time. On its final day, the grand religious festival attracted pilgrims from every corner of the country.
Extensive arrangements have been made for Wednesday’s ritual bath. As pilgrims take bath, security personnel are keeping a watchful eye to manage the influx of pilgrims streaming into the mela grounds. They are ensuring that no area becomes overcrowded for extended periods. The government has implemented extensive measures, including effective crowd management, improved sanitation, and sufficient medical facilities. The heightened focus on arrangements followed the January 26 stampede during Mauni Amavasya, which claimed over 30 lives and left more than 60 injured.
Maha Shivratri: The final auspicious snan at Sangam
Maha Shivratri marks the last auspicious ‘snan’ at the Triveni Sangam. Maha Shivratri celebrates the sacred union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, holding particular importance in the context of the Kumbh Mela. Hindu mythology says that Lord Shiva played a vital role in the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), which led to the emergence of the Amrit Kumbh (nectar pitcher), the very essence of the Kumbh Mela. The day attracts vast crowds of devotees to the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.
Over 64 crore footfall registered
The Uttar Pradesh government said that a total of 1.33 crore devotees bathed at the Sangam and other ghats in the Mela area on Tuesday, bringing the overall footfall during the Maha Kumbh 2025 to over 64 crore.
The Maha Kumbh featured six special bathing dates: Paush Purnima on January 13, Makar Sankranti on January 14, Mauni Amavasya on January 29, Basant Panchami on February 3, Maghi Purnima on February 12, and Maha Shivratri on February 26, including three ‘Amrit Snan’.
Due to the large number of attendees, authorities have declared a “no vehicle zone” in the mela area and Prayagraj, while also implementing strict crowd control measures and providing logistical support to ensure a smooth conclusion to Maha Kumbh 2025.
“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,” DIG (Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna was quoted as saying by PTI on Tuesday.
