Mahakumbh 2025: Today, Monday, the auspicious date of Paush Purnima, will mark the start of the 45-day Mahakumbh Mela, which is considered the greatest religious gathering in the world. The holy bathing rites at the Sangam, the holy confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the legendary Saraswati, are expected to be attended by around 1.5 crore (15 million) pilgrims, according to authorities.

Nearly 50 lakh (5 million) devotees had already arrived by Sunday evening, indicating that preparations for the great mela are well underway. Vijay Kiran Anand, the district magistrate of Mahakumbh Nagar, claims that everything is set up for the inaugural bathing festival on Paush Purnima, which would bring millions of people to the ghats.

For more than 45 days, 40 crore devotees are anticipated for the Mahakumbh Mela.
The festival, which will take place across a 4000-hectare area split into 25 parts, is expected to draw some 40 crore (400 million) people, including pilgrims and tourists. To handle the enormous flood of people, 31 pontoon bridges will link these districts.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025: Six Essential Days for Bathing
Paush Purnima on January 13, Makar Sankranti on January 14, Mauni Amavasya on January 29, Basant Panchami on February 3, Maghi Purnima on February 12, and Maha Shivratri on February 26 are the six main bathing days that are planned throughout the festival time.

The mela also marks the beginning of Kalpwas, when more than 25 lakh devotees are anticipated to participate in a month-long meditation and spiritual exercises.

Mahakumbh 2025: Safety Protocols
Security measures have been strengthened to guarantee safety and security amongst the sizable crowds, particularly in light of the continuous threats of terrorism. Private automobiles and motorbikes are not allowed in the mela area, and vehicles entering Prayagraj are subject to a rigorous inspection. Traffic restrictions have also been put in place, particularly on pontoon bridges where a lot of foot traffic is anticipated.

Approximately 2.5 crore (25 million) devotees are anticipated to bathe on January 14 at the first Rajasi or Amrit Snan of Makar Sankranti, when sadhus from all 13 monastic orders would partake in the sacred plunge. A planned strategy to coordinate the movements of the 13 akhadas participating in the Rajasi Snan is one of the many preparations the mela administration has undertaken to ensure the seamless execution of these bathing ceremonies.

Prime Minister Modi Designates Mahakumbh 2025 as a Momentous Occasion
During his December visit to Prayagraj to launch 167 projects totaling Rs 5,500 crore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Mahakumbh 2025 a historic occasion and emphasized its position as the greatest religious assemblage in the world. Helicopters above the bathing ghats will shower the sadhus and devotees with flower petals during the Rajasi Snan.

To avert mishaps, the Navy has sent 25 marine commandos and installed water barriers around the 12-kilometer mela region, which is home to 48 ghats. For the guests’ comfort, 1.25 lakh restrooms and more than 18,000 changing rooms have been built up.

Mahakumbh 2025: Parking and Transportation Plans
About 13,000 trains, including 3,000 special trains, 5,500 buses from the UP State Transport Corporation, and 550 shuttle buses, have been set up to accommodate the enormous number of tourists. Furthermore, around 100 parking spaces have been created to handle the cars transporting pilgrims from different places.