Thousands of devotees gathered at Prayagraj’s Triveni Sangam on Wednesday for the holy ‘snan’ (bath) on Magh Purnima, marking the fourth ‘Amrit Snan’ of Maha Kumbh 2025. Early drone visuals showed huge crowds taking a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, with flower petals showered from helicopters adding to the spiritual atmosphere.
Vivek Chaturvedi, additional mela officer, noted the larger-than-expected turnout and assured that all preparations were in place for the day-long event. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his greetings and revealed that over 45 crore devotees had taken a holy dip at the Sangam since the start of the Maha Kumbh on January 13.
Security measures included AI-enabled cameras and drones to monitor crowd movements, real-time vehicle tracking from toll plazas, and no-vehicle zones except for emergencies. Deputy Inspector General Vaibhav Krishna urged visitors to follow official UP Police social media handles for accurate updates.
Healthcare arrangements were top-tier, with 133 ambulances—including air and river units—on standby. More than 2,000 medical personnel were stationed in the fair area, with an additional 700 on high alert at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, which had secured 200 blood units and 250 beds for emergencies.
To ease transportation, 1,200 additional buses were deployed, and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected arrangements at key railway stations. Schools in Prayagraj continued online classes to avoid disruption during the Mela.
The Maha Kumbh, held every 12 years, is the world’s largest spiritual gathering and will conclude on February 26, the day of Mahashivratri.
