Prayagraj,

15 Jan (HS): More than 65 lakh devotees took a bath in the Ganga and Sangam at

the current Magh Mela here on Thursday to commemorate Makar Sankranti,

according to authorities. A Magh Mela administration official stated that

bathing began at midnight and that by 1 p.m., almost 65 lakh individuals had

taken the traditional bath. At 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., there were 21 lakh and 36

lakh bathers, respectively Given that

the auspicious period for Makar Sankranti lasts throughout the day, the number

of pilgrims is projected to reach one crore by the evening, he noted.

Local

priest Ravishankar Mishra explained the religious importance of the day,

stating that Makar Sankranti marks the start of the sun's northern journey. The

time between sunrise and sunset is regarded extremely fortunate, and

worshipping the Sun God and chanting the Gayatri Mantra on this day is seen to

be exceptionally beneficial, he added.

According

to Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agrawal, the Magh Mela covers 800 hectares

and spans seven regions. More than 25,000 toilets have been installed

throughout the fairgrounds, with over 3,500 sanitation staff deployed. Agrawal

stated that a tent city has been set up at the Magh Mela for guests who prefer

to follow short-term 'Kalpvas' (periods dedicated to spiritual cleansing),

including services like as meditation and yoga. To assist the movement of

devotees, services such as bike taxis and golf carts have been organized.

According

to Superintendent of Police, Magh Mela Neeraj Pandey, approximately 10,000

police personnel have been deployed throughout the fairgrounds to ensure

pilgrim safety and seamless crowd flow. This year, 42 temporary parking

facilities with a capacity of more than one lakh vehicles were built to help

with crowd and traffic control. He noted that many ghats have been built for

the Magh Mela 2025-26, complete with all necessary amenities, including

changing rooms for devotees.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi