Maha Shivratri Crowd Gathers at Sangam for the Maha Kumbh Final ‘Snan’; Police Remain on High Alert in Prayagraj

News India Official: The grand Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 concluded on Wednesday, February 26, with devotees gathering at Triveni Sangam in the early hours for the final holy dip on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. Spanning six weeks, the world’s largest spiritual gathering in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, came to an end with this event. Maha Shivratri, a significant Hindu festival commemorating the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, holds special significance in the Maha Kumbh.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva played a crucial role in the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), which led to the emergence of the Amrit Kumbh (pitcher of nectar), forming the essence of the Kumbh Mela. Beginning on January 13, the Maha Kumbh Mela featured six special ‘snan’ (holy baths), including three ‘Amrit Snan’ days—Paush Purnima (January 13), Makar Sankranti (January 14), Mauni Amavasya (January 29), Basant Panchami (February 3), and Maghi Purnima (February 12), concluding with Maha Shivratri (February 26).

At dawn on Wednesday, crowds of devotees rushed to Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers converge, for the last sacred bath of the festival. Anticipating a massive turnout, authorities declared the entire Kumbh Mela area a ‘no-vehicle zone.’ DIG (Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna informed PTI that no VIP privileges would be granted on this day. The Uttar Pradesh government issued guidelines urging devotees to use designated ghats. Those arriving via the Uttar Jhunsi route were advised to head to Harishchandra Ghat and Old GT Ghat, while those from Dakshini Jhunsi were directed to Arail Ghat. Visitors entering from the Pande area were recommended to use Bharadwaj Ghat, Nagavasuki Ghat, Mori Ghat, Kali Ghat, Ram Ghat, and Hanuman Ghat.

DIG Vaibhav Krishna also assured that security arrangements were well in place for Maha Shivratri, with officials expecting a higher influx of devotees than Tuesday’s count of 1.33 crore. To ensure safety, 37,000 police personnel and 14,000 home guards had been deployed, along with 2,750 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, three Jal Police stations, 18 Jal Police control rooms, and 50 watch towers. Authorities were also closely monitoring social media to curb the spread of misinformation about the Maha Kumbh.

To facilitate devotees’ return, Indian Railways arranged over 350 additional trains from Prayagraj after the final ‘Amrit Snan.’ Earlier, during Mauni Amavasya, over 360 special trains were deployed to transport more than 20 lakh passengers. A similar operational plan was in place for Maha Shivratri. Given the recent stampede incidents, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, and Northern Railways remained on high alert. On Tuesday, 60 trains—including regular ring rail, long-distance, and special Mela trains—operated until 4 PM, with an additional 25 special trains running on Maha Shivratri. Security at key railway stations had been intensified, with 850 RPF personnel and 290 commercial staff deployed at Jhunsi station, while Prayagraj Rambagh had 500 RPF personnel and 250 commercial staff on duty.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had been personally monitoring the situation, with Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar overseeing on-ground operations. General managers from three railway zones were coordinating efforts to manage passenger movement efficiently. Additionally, fire safety measures had been strengthened due to previous fire incidents at the Maha Kumbh, though none resulted in casualties. Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma informed PTI that 50 fire stations and 20 fire posts were on standby to handle emergencies.

On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his greetings to devotees from across the state and beyond, emphasizing that Maha Shivratri inspires people to work for the welfare of society. He noted that Lord Mahadev is revered universally and that such festivals reinforce traditions and national unity. He also highlighted that the Jyotirlingas across India symbolize national integration.

News India Official

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