People arrive at the Sangam on a cold and foggy winter morning, ahead of ‘Mauni Amavasya’, during the ongoing ‘Magh Mela’ festival, in Prayagraj, on January 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
More than 1.3 crore devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam by 8 a.m. on Sunday (January 18, 2026) on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, the main bathing festival of the ongoing Magh Mela here, officials said.
A senior mela administration official said devotees began arriving at the Ganga and Sangam ghats from midnight, braving dense fog, and continued to stream in from all directions through the early morning hours.
Earlier, about 1.03 crore devotees had taken a dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, while nearly 85 lakh people bathed in the Ganga and Sangam on Ekadashi.
In Frames: Prayerful in Prayagraj
Sacred spot: Devotees take a dip at the Triveni Sangam
Seeking salvation: Women offering prayers at the Magh Mela.
Sheltering devotees: Tents set up for pilgrims visiting the ongoing Magh mela 2026, in Prayagaraj
Chanelling the faithful: Devotees atop a pontoon bridge at the mela on their way to take the holy dip ahead of the Mauni Amavasya festival.
On duty: Members of Uttar Pradesh’s anti-terror squad keep an eye on the ongoing festivities at the Sangam.
Inclusive faith: A kinnar saint at the religious gathering blesses a child.
High vigil: Police and Railway personnel monitor crowds round the clock at the Integrated Command and Control Centre.
Religious rites: Two Hindu saints, immersed in prayer, perform evening rituals as dusk settles in.
A big draw: An aerial view of the swarm of pilgrims gathered at the Triveni Sangam.
Ceremonial tribute: Priests perform Ganga aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat ahead of Mauni Amavasya during the Magh Mela.
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Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agrawal said reflective tapes have been installed on poles across the mela area to help pilgrims navigate correctly, while civil defence volunteers have been deployed to guide devotees.
She said the Magh Mela has been spread across 800 hectares and divided into seven sectors. More than 25,000 toilets have been installed in the mela area, and over 3,500 sanitation workers are deployed to maintain cleanliness.
Ms. Agrawal added that a tent city has been set up for tourists and pilgrims wishing to observe short-term Kalpvas (purification rituals), with facilities for meditation and yoga. To ensure smooth movement, services such as bike taxis and golf carts have also been provided.
Superintendent of Police (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey said over 10,000 police personnel have been deployed across the mela area to ensure security and smooth movement of devotees. For crowd management and traffic regulation, 42 temporary parking zones have been created this year, with a capacity to accommodate over one lakh vehicles.
He said a total of 12,100 feet-long bathing ghats have been constructed for the Magh Mela 2025-26, equipped with all essential basic facilities.
Published – January 18, 2026 11:45 am IST
