Prayagraj, Jan 19: Devotees continued to flock to the Magh Mela Kshetra in Prayagraj on Monday, seeking a sacred dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati rivers at Sangam. The festival has seen a tremendous turnout, with over 3 crore devotees already having bathed in the holy waters as of Sunday, and the crowd steadily growing.
Ravi Shukla, a devotee from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements made for the pilgrims. "It was a wonderful experience. Yesterday, I took a dip in the holy Ganga, and today I came here... The government has made excellent arrangements to accommodate the devotees. I didn’t face any problems,” he said.
Aadarsh Shukla echoed similar sentiments, adding, “The government has taken care of all the arrangements. It was a very good experience.”
On Sunday, Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agarwal informed the media that over three crore devotees had already participated in the holy dip during the ongoing Magh Mela. "Today, on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, more than 3 crore devotees have already taken the holy dip. There is a continuous crowd on the ghats. Everything is normal," Agarwal told ANI.
The Mauni Amavasya bath, which began at midnight, saw an especially grand spectacle as flower petals were showered on the devotees gathered at the Sangam for the ritual. A helicopter was deployed to shower petals on the sea of devotees, adding a divine touch to the occasion.
Prayagraj District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma confirmed the large turnout, despite heavy fog overnight. "The bath on Mauni Amavasya began at midnight. Devotees continued to arrive in large numbers, despite the fog. The bath has been taking place at every ghat since morning. The weather is very pleasant now,” he said. By 12 PM, over 3 crore devotees had already participated in the ritual.
Verma also assured that the Magh Mela was proceeding smoothly, with thorough security arrangements in place to ensure the safety of the large crowds. As the influx of pilgrims continues, authorities are ensuring everything remains organized for the ongoing event.
