Prayagraj, Feb 15: More than two million devotees took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam since Brahmamuhurta on Mahashivratri, the sixth and final bathing festival marking the 44th and concluding day of the annual Magh Mela in Uttar Pradesh. Authorities expect the total footfall to reach around 10 million by the end of the day.
According to Mela officer Rishiraj, millions of pilgrims have been bathing across the three-and-a-half-kilometre-long ghats since dawn amid elaborate arrangements and tight security. Senior police and civil officials remained deployed on the ground, while UP Police, PAC, RAF and ATS commandos monitored the fair area through 400 CCTV cameras, including more than 150 AI-enabled units.
The fair administration said Mahashivratri holds special spiritual significance this year due to a favourable planetary alignment, with charity of food, clothes and gold considered especially meritorious. Along with the ritual bath at Sangam, devotees are offering abhishekam to Lord Shiva at temples where additional security has also been enforced.
With the Mahashivratri bathing festival, Magh Mela 2026 will formally conclude on Sunday. (Agencies)
