Prayagraj witnessed an overwhelming gathering of devotees at the Sangam on Thursday, with over 21 lakh pilgrims taking a holy dip in the Ganga on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, officials said. Bathing at the sacred confluence began at midnight, with numbers steadily increasing through the morning hours.

A Magh Mela administration official said that by 8 am, around 21 lakh people had performed the ritual bath, and the count is expected to surpass one crore by evening, as the auspicious period continues from sunrise to sunset. The festival draws devotees from across the country seeking spiritual purification.

Local priest Ravishankar Mishra explained the religious significance of Makar Sankranti, marking the Sun’s northward journey or Uttarayan. He emphasized that worship of the Sun God and chanting the Gayatri Mantra during this period is considered highly auspicious and spiritually rewarding.

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Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agrawal said the Magh Mela spreads across 800 hectares divided into seven sectors. To accommodate the massive crowd, more than 25,000 toilets have been set up, over 3,500 sanitation workers deployed, and a tent city established for pilgrims observing short-term ‘Kalpvas’ with facilities for meditation and yoga.

Safety and crowd management measures were also reinforced. Superintendent of Police Neeraj Pandey said over 10,000 police personnel are deployed, while 42 temporary parking facilities have been created to accommodate over one lakh vehicles. Multiple ghats equipped with changing rooms and basic amenities have been constructed for smooth pilgrim movement.

To further ensure convenience, the administration has arranged services like bike taxis and golf carts for devotees. Officials highlighted that such large-scale arrangements are part of ongoing efforts to maintain order, hygiene, and safety during one of India’s largest religious gatherings.

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