Prayagraj,
15 Jan (HS): More than 91 lakh devotees took a holy bath in the Ganga and
Sangam during the ongoing Magh Mela till 4 p.m. here on Thursday to commemorate
Makar Sankranti, according to authorities. As the fortunate Makar Sankranti
period continues throughout the day, the number of pilgrims is projected to breach
one crore mark by the evening, according to a Magh Mela administrative
official. Pilgrims were instructed to perform the ceremonial wash and leave
without spending too much time at the ghats, and to avoid using oil and soap.
According
to District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, devotees began bathing early in the
morning and the procedure proceeded smoothly throughout the day at both the
Sangam and sector-specific ghats.
He
stated that public announcements and police officials were frequently reminding
pilgrims to take the plunge in an orderly way and go to their destinations so
that incoming devotees were not inconvenienced. We have also asked devotees not
to use oil and soap at ghats so that arriving pilgrims do not encounter any
difficulties or discomfort, Verma stated. He noted that water police, as well
as NDRF and SDRF personnel, were deployed, and that no contingency plan had to
be used thus far despite the strong influx. According to a Magh Mela
administration official, bathing began at midnight and by 4 p.m., nearly 91
lakh people had taken their ceremonial bath.
Gauri
Ojha, a local resident, said she felt privileged to be able to take a plunge at
Sangam every year. As a Prayagraj native, I feel fortunate to be able to bathe
at the Sangam during the Magh Mela. She added that the Sun's shift into
Uttarayan adds to the solemnity of today's bath. Ojha further stated that she
had brought a special vessel of water from Varanasi and had gathered Sangam
water, which she would later gift to Lord Shiva. She observed that facilities
for women had much improved. Changing rooms are now accessible at the ghats,
which were not present a few years ago. Women and girls used to suffer
challenges, but the situation has improved significantly, she said, adding that
pilgrims should also guarantee proper disposal of unwanted clothing and
materials at the ghats.
Another
local resident, Preeti, described her bathing experience at the Sangam on Makar
Sankranti as remarkable and commended the administration's efforts. A lawyer
who traveled from Hyderabad with his family praised the Magh Mela's
cleanliness, amenities, and security precautions. We did not arrive with any
specific demands or prayers. God has provided enough for me and my family. We've
come merely to express our thanks, he continued.
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
