Magh Mela:Over 21 lakh take holy dip at Sangam on Makar Sankranti

More than 21 lakh devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam during the ongoing Magh Mela on Thursday on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, according to information.According to a Magh Mela administration official, ritual bathing began from midnight, and by 8 am, around 21 lakh pilgrims had performed the sacred bath. With the auspicious period of Makar Sankranti continuing throughout the day, the number of devotees is expected to cross one crore by evening, stated officials.
Highlighting the religious significance of the festival, local priest Ravishankar Mishra said Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun’s northward journey, known as Uttarayan. “The period from sunrise to sunset is considered highly auspicious. Worship of the Sun God and chanting of the Gayatri Mantra on this day is believed to be especially fruitful,” he said.

#WATCH | Prayagraj, UP: A large number of devotees arrive at the Sangam Ghat and take a holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti 2026. pic.twitter.com/3rqrw0lajw

— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2026

Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agrawal said the Magh Mela is spread over nearly 800 hectares across seven sectors. To manage the massive influx of pilgrims, more than 25,000 toilets have been installed across the fair area, and over 3,500 sanitation workers have been deployed.Agrawal further said a tent city has been set up at the Magh Mela for visitors wishing to observe short-term Kalpvas, a period dedicated to spiritual purification. The tent city offers facilities such as meditation and yoga. To ensure smooth movement within the fair area, services including bike taxis and golf carts have also been arranged.
Superintendent of Police (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey said more than 10,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of pilgrims and facilitate smooth crowd movement. For effective crowd and traffic management, 42 temporary parking facilities have been created this year, with the capacity to accommodate over one lakh vehicles.He added that multiple ghats have been constructed for the Magh Mela 2025–26 and are equipped with all basic amenities, including changing rooms for devotees.