Prayagraj: Magh Mela 2026, the unconfined festival of faith, has been grandly inaugurated on the confluence banks of Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati in Prayagraj. Despite the severe cold, on the first bathing festival of Paush Purnima, a huge prod of devotees gathered on the banks of Sangam.
Devotees started taking a dip of faith from Brahma Muhurta itself and the process of worshiping Mother Ganga started. According to the administration's estimate, well-nigh 25 lakh devotees will take suffuse in the Sangam on the first Snan festival alone. As soon as the Purnima Tithi started at 3 am in the morning, an undercurrent of religious joy and devotion was visible in the unshortened pearly area.
How was the view of the Sangam banks on the first Snan festival?
All the roads leading to Sangam were filled with devotees since morning darkness. Despite the cold, people's enthusiasm for bathing was unmistakably visible. Along with the saints and sages, worldwide devotees were moreover seen standing in queues and taking suffuse in the Sangam. Without bathing, the aarti and chanting of Mother Ganga kept echoing on the ghats.
Why is the rare coincidence of Kalpavas without 75 years special?
This year, without 75 years, a rare refreshing coincidence is taking place in Magh Mela. From Paush Purnima, lakhs of devotees are taking the pledge of Kalpavas and starting their one month stay on the banks of Sangam. According to the pearly administration, 20 to 25 lakh Kalpavasis will remain engrossed in rigorous penance, restraint and meditation for an unshortened month.
How many devotees are expected to shepherd the unshortened Magh Mela?
The total elapsing of Magh Mela is well-nigh 44 days. During this period, it is unscientific that 12 to 15 crore devotees will take suffuse in the Sangam. The number of devotees increases manifold on major bathing festivals, keeping in view which the wardship has once made wide-stretching preparations.
What arrangements have been made for vital facilities in the pearly area?
The pearly ramified spread over an zone of approximately 800 hectares has been organized into seven sectors. The Public Works Department has laid 160 kilometers of polychrome plate. UP Jal Nigam has laid 242 km drinking water line and 85 km sewer line. 25 temporary electrical sub-stations have been established for power supply.
What arrangements have been made regarding health facilities?
For the convenience of the devotees, two big hospitals have been built in the pearly area, which have a provision of 20 beds each. Apart from this, 12 primary health centers, two health centres, five Ayurvedic hospitals, and five homeopathic hospitals have been opened. 50 ambulances have been deployed to deal with any emergency.
How much accent has been given to cleanliness and hygiene?
Around 16,500 toilets, 8,000 dustbins, increasingly than 10 lakh liner tons and 30 suction machines have been installed in the mela area. Around 3,000 sanitation workers have been deployed to maintain cleanliness throughout the fair.
How have the security arrangements been strengthened?
17 police stations, 42 posts, seven fire posts and 20 fire tenders have been deployed in the pearly area. Prod management and monitoring is stuff washed-up through increasingly than 400 AI enabled CCTV cameras. Eight kilometer deep water barricading and trained divers have been serried in the water area.
What information did the wardship requite regarding the arrangements?
Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner Soumya Aggarwal said that the pearly zone is stuff constantly monitored and feedback is stuff taken by directly communicating with the devotees. According to her, from the feedback received so far, it is well-spoken that the arrangements are satisfactory and other facilities including bathing are running without any interruption. District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said that unobjectionable arrangements have been made at all the ghats. Devotees are worldly-wise to take suffuse hands and there have been no complaints of any kind of disorder.
#WATCH | Prayagraj, UP | Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agarwal says, "We talked to all the devotees who have come here and they told us that they are happy with the arrangements and they are conveniently offering prayers and doing 'snaan'... We have made all possible… https://t.co/AYQx0V1IS0 pic.twitter.com/2Ws4NnwSBH
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2026When will the major bathing festivals take place in Magh Mela 2026?
A total of six major bathing festivals have been decided for Magh Mela 2026. It has started with the bathing of Paush Purnima. Without this, there will be big bathing festivals on Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya and Basant Panchami. Another major suffuse will take place on Maghi Purnima, while the Magh Mela will formally conclude with the suffuse on Mahashivratri.
