MAHAKUMBH NAGAR: Over seven crore pilgrims have taken a holy dip at the Sangam—the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers—between January 11 and January 16 during the Maha Kumbh Mela, according to an official statement.
On Thursday alone, more than 30 lakh devotees bathed in the Sangam, seeking spiritual virtue and divine blessings. The state government had anticipated a turnout of over 45 crore participants for this year’s Maha Kumbh. The early attendance of seven crore pilgrims strongly supports this projection, the statement noted.
Pilgrims from across India and around the globe have been drawn to the spiritual ambiance of this holy congregation. Before the Maha Kumbh officially began, approximately 45 lakh people bathed on January 11, and a record 65 lakh devotees followed suit on January 12.
On the first official day, January 13, an unprecedented 1.70 crore pilgrims participated in the holy dip. The following day, January 14, around 3.50 crore devotees bathed at the Sangam, marking a total of over 5.20 crore attendees within the first two days alone.
On Wednesday, a 21-member international delegation from 10 countries visited Arail Tent City in Prayagraj to experience the Maha Kumbh. This delegation, invited by the Ministry of External Affairs’ External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division, took part in the rituals and bathed in the Triveni Sangam on Thursday.
Denesh Persaud from Guyana expressed his joy after fulfilling a lifelong dream to take a dip in the sacred Ganga, calling it a “dream come true.” Sally El Azab from the United Arab Emirates also shared her excitement about attending the world’s largest religious gathering.
The international delegation included representatives from Fiji, Finland, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the UAE, highlighting the global appeal of this spiritual event. Their accommodations were arranged at Arail Tent City by the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.
The Maha Kumbh, organised under the leadership of the Yogi government, began on January 13 and will continue until February 26. Key upcoming bathing dates include January 29 (Mauni Amavasya—Second Shahi Snan), February 3 (Basant Panchami—Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).