New Delhi: Prayagraj witnessed a massive surge of pilgrims on Thursday as more than 21 lakh devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam on the occasion of Makar Sankranti during the ongoing Magh Mela. The ritual bathing began shortly after midnight, with large crowds gathering at the ghats in the early hours of the day.
By 8 am, lakhs of devotees had already completed the sacred ritual, and authorities anticipated the turnout to rise significantly as the auspicious period of Makar Sankranti lasts until sunset. With continuous arrivals of pilgrims from different parts of the country, officials estimated that the total number of bathers could cross one crore by the end of the day.
Makar Sankranti holds deep religious importance as it marks the beginning of the sun’s northward movement, known as Uttarayan. The day is considered highly sacred, with sunrise to sunset believed to be the most auspicious time for bathing, prayers, and spiritual practices. Devotees traditionally offer prayers to the Sun God and recite sacred mantras, believing these rituals bring spiritual merit and prosperity.
The Magh Mela is spread across nearly 800 hectares and has been divided into seven sectors for better management. To handle the huge influx of visitors, more than 25,000 toilets have been installed across the fairgrounds, supported by a sanitation workforce exceeding 3,500 personnel to maintain cleanliness throughout the area.
A well-equipped tent city has been set up for pilgrims observing Kalpvas, a short-term spiritual retreat involving meditation, prayer, and disciplined living. Facilities such as yoga spaces, meditation areas, and essential amenities have been provided. To ease movement within the vast mela area, services including bike taxis and golf carts are operational.
Security arrangements have been strengthened with the deployment of over 10,000 police personnel to ensure crowd control and pilgrim safety. Additionally, 42 temporary parking zones with capacity for more than one lakh vehicles have been developed. Multiple ghats, complete with changing rooms and basic facilities, have been constructed to accommodate the heavy rush of devotees throughout the day.
