Maha Kumbh Concludes as Millions Gather for Final Holy Dip on Mahashivratri

By siliconindia  |  Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 09:41:29 AM IST

Maha Kumbh Concludes as Millions Gather for Final Holy Dip on Mahashivratri
Prayagraj saw a sea of devotees overwhelming the Triveni Sangam on Wednesday as the six-week-long Maha Kumbh Mela ended with the last sacred dip on the day of Mahashivratri. The grand festival, which occurs once in 12 years, saw millions of pilgrims enduring the night to take the sacred dip in the holy waters, praying for spiritual purification and divine blessings.
Mahashivratri, the festival of divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is of great importance in the Kumbh Mela tradition. In Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva was a key figure in the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean that resulted in the appearance of the Amrit Kumbh, the nectar of immortality. This religious attachment attracts pilgrims to the point of union of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythological Saraswati rivers, which is said to provide 'moksha' to anyone who takes a dip in its waters.
More than 11.66 lakh pilgrims had snan at Sangam by 2 a.m. on Wednesday. The figure increased to 25.64 lakh in two hours and rose to almost double by sunrise to 41.11 lakh at 6 a.m. More than one crore pilgrims were expected to take part in the last snan during the day, estimated officials.
Before the final holy dip, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wished the devotees. "Hearty wishes to all the holy saints, Kalpvasis, and devotees who have come to take holy dip in the Triveni Sangam today on the sacred bathing festival of Mahashivratri. May Lord Shiva and Mother Ganga bless everyone. Har Har Mahadev", he tweeted.
Loyalists started queueing up at the Sangam banks as early as midnight, with overnight camping to grab a spot for the holy dip during 'Brahma Muhurt', a sacred hour preceding dawn. The last bath during Mahashivratri signalled the end of the six unique bathing days during the Kumbh, ranging from Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, and Maghi Purnima, and three 'Amrit Snan' days.
Over 1.33 crore pilgrims took the sacred dip on Tuesday alone, taking the total footfall for Maha Kumbh 2025 to over 65 crore, according to government reports. Prayagraj city was filled with spiritual fervour as devotees from all over the nation flocked to be a part of this special moment.
Since the number of visitors was sheer in magnitude, law enforcement officers were kept alert, using police, paramilitary troops, and disaster management teams for security and crowd control. Real-time monitoring was done using surveillance drones, AI-powered CCTV cameras, and command centers, while medic teams and emergency squads remained on standby at strategic points.
To handle the outgoing rush of pilgrims, the North Eastern Railway (NER) added extra trains and stepped up security at major stations. NER CPRO Pankaj Kumar Singh asserted that 60 trains, including special Mela trains, ran till 4 p.m. on February 25, with 25 more to run on Mahashivratri. Authorities also put in place a 'no vehicle zone' in the mela complex and followed strict logistical protocols to ensure a smooth culmination of the event.
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 has left behind a legacy of faith, devotion, and togetherness, as millions headed back home with hearts full of spiritual satisfaction and precious memories of a divine confluence like no other.

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