The mega Maha Kumbh Mela is all set to culminate today with the final scan of Maha Shivratri. With chants of 'Har Har Mahadev', pilgrims from different states across the country marched towards the 'Triveni Sangam' city of Prayagraj, to take a holy dip on the last day of Maha Kumbh. The mela, which began on January 13, will end on Wednesday after 45 days.
The religious gathering saw nearly 64 crore people taking a holy dip at Sangam to be part of an occasion that will next be held after 144 years. A large number of devotees have come to the city, many of whom have already taken baths during the 'Brahma Muhurt'.
People from all four corners of the country are arriving to take part in the world's largest spiritual gathering. "Lord Shiva for me means 'Shunyata', one must feel that he is she is nothing in front of him. Besides, one must have goodness inside. If one has dirt inside, washing oneself in holy Sangam will not even cleanse any sin," Rajvir Singh Jhala (20), a BBA student from Rajkot told PTI after taking a bath at the Sangam nose.


Chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Jai Mahakal' echoed across the Mela ground as pilgrims marched towards different ghats. Many pilgrims came from West Bengal, Karnataka, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, covering the length and breadth of the country. Devotees from Nepal also reached the ghats to take a holy dip on Mahashivratri, reported PTI.

Maha Kumbh Shivratri Snan Security

Anticipating a large crowd on Shivratri, the authorities have made elaborate security arrangements across the city. The Maha Kumbh area was declared a 'No Vehicle Zone' from 4 pm on Tuesday while no vehicle entry was allowed in Prayagraj after 6 PM on Tuesday.
Strict crowd control measures and logistical support are in place to facilitate a seamless culmination of Maha Kumbh 2025.
DIG (Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna said expansive police deployment has been made in the Mela area. "We are prepared particularly to handle a two-pronged situation, one is the rush of devotees at the ghats including Sangam and the other is crowd management at five main shivalayas in the mela area where devotees will offer sacred waters to Lord Shiva," he told PTI.

Krishna added that the entire Mela area has been a "no-vehicle zone" since Tuesday evening and "no VIP treatment" will be accorded to anyone on Wednesday. The DIG further said, "We are expecting the footfall on Wednesday to be higher than it was on Tuesday (1.33 crore)."

Why is Maha Shivratri Important

Mahashivratri celebrates the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The divine union will commemorate the Maha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday. In Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva played a very important role during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), from which Amrit Kumbh (nectar pitcher) had emerged.
It is this Amrit Kumbh from which four drops fell on earth, and Kumbh is celebrated at these places -- Prayagraj, Ujjain, Haridwar and Nashik.
Lord Shiva had drunk the Vish (poison) that had come out during the Samudra Manthan, which turned his throat blue- thus the name, 'Neel Kanth'.

On Tuesday, a total of 1.33 crore devotees immersed themselves at the Sangam and other ghats taking the overall number of devotees at the Maha Kumbh 2025 to more than 64 crore, according to the Uttar Pradesh government.
The Maha Kumbh has witnessed six special bathing dates -- 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 Mahashivratri on February 26 -- including three 'Amrit Snan'.