Basant Panchami Snan Draws 20 Million Devotees at Prayagraj Mahakumbh Amid Tight Security
Prayagraj, February 3 – The third Amrit Snan (holy dip) of the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 on Basant Panchami witnessed an overwhelming turnout, with nearly 20 million devotees taking a dip in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers by 4 PM on Monday.
From the early hours of Monday, lakhs of pilgrims from India and across the world thronged the Triveni Sangam, chanting "Har Har Gange". The atmosphere was charged with devotion as Naga Sadhus and other saints performed rituals, and floral showers from helicopters enhanced the divine spectacle.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his Basant Panchami greetings via social media and monitored the Mahakumbh proceedings from Lucknow along with senior officials. He emphasized the spiritual significance of the event, calling it an opportunity for devotees to receive divine blessings. Officials confirmed that all 13 Akharas (monastic orders) completed their ritualistic bath by noon, paving the way for lakhs of Indian and international pilgrims to take their sacred dip.
Given the January 29 stampede on Mouni Amavasya, which resulted in 30 deaths and 60 injuries, authorities implemented stringent crowd control measures at major ghats. Thousands of additional police personnel were stationed across key locations, ensuring smooth movement and preventing overcrowding. Inspector General of Police Vaibhav Krishna, overseeing Mahakumbh security, assured that all safety measures were in place, stating that today’s crowd was being managed "efficiently and without any major disruptions."
To further streamline crowd movement, the Uttar Pradesh government launched ‘Operation Eleven’, ensuring one-way traffic control and deploying additional security forces at Triveni Ghats. Despite these efforts, many pilgrims chose to bathe at alternative sites like Dashashwamedh Ghat to avoid overcrowding.
The sheer magnitude of the Mahakumbh 2025 was reflected in government figures, revealing that since January 13, nearly 35 crore devotees had already bathed in the Ganga and Sangam. Monday’s Amrit Snan also saw over 10 lakh Kalpvasis—long-term spiritual retreatants—observing their month-long meditation and religious vows. These Kalpvasis will conclude their stay with the upcoming Maghi Purnima Snan, marking the end of their pilgrimage.
With high alert directives from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, top police officials, including ADG Bhanu Bhaskar, closely monitored crowd control and security arrangements to ensure a flawless execution of this sacred event.
The Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 will witness its final and most anticipated ‘Amrit Snan’ on Maghi Purnima, drawing millions once again to the banks of the holy Sangam.
