On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a massive surge of devotees was witnessed at the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. By evening, around 10.3 million pilgrims took a holy dip in the Ganga and Sangam.
Massive Crowd at Prayagraj Magh Mela as Makar Sankranti Draws Crores
Prayagraj: On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, a flood of devotees thronged religious cities across the country. The Magh Mela in Uttar Pradesh witnessed a remarkable show of faith on Thursday. By evening, approximately 10.3 million devotees had taken holy dips in the Ganges and the Sangam, earning the blessings of the deity. According to the Mela administration, the bathing sequence began at 12 midnight on Wednesday, and due to the auspicious timings throughout the day, a large number of devotees arrived.
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The Mela administration reported that approximately 8.5 million devotees had bathed in the Ganges and the Sangam on the occasion of Ekadashi the previous day. According to Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agarwal, the "bike taxi" service, launched for the convenience of devotees, was widely utilized. On Thursday, approximately 11,500 people took advantage of this service, while a total of over 138,000 devotees have used the bike taxis so far.
Superintendent of Police (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey stated that more than 10,000 police personnel have been deployed in the fair area to ensure the safety and smooth movement of devotees. Crowds are being continuously monitored through CCTV, drone surveillance, and a control room.
On Makar Sankranti, crowds of devotees thronged the ghats in Varanasi from late night. After bathing, devotees visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers to Baba Vishwanath. A special midday Bhog Aarti was held on this occasion, in which khichdi, flattened rice, peanut patties, and papad were offered.
In Ayodhya, devotees bathed in the Saryu River and offered prayers at Hanumangarhi and the Ram Temple. According to officials, around 500,000 devotees arrived in Ayodhya.
Over 2.1 million devotees take holy dip by morning at Magh Mela
According to the administration, large crowds are also expected during the Magh Mela on the occasions of Mauni Amavasya, Vasant Panchami, and Maghi Purnima. In view of this, additional security arrangements have been made in Ayodhya and Prayagraj. Holding areas have been established at entry points to the cities to control crowds and ensure safe passage of devotees.
