Authorities implemented stringent security measures, managing massive crowds with AI-powered surveillance, drone monitoring, and increased police presence. While the Mela area has already been declared a no-vehicle zone for the next few days, the Prayagraj administration has also made an appeal to local residents to avoid using four wheelers and opt for two wheelers only if carrying senior citizens to the Sangam.

The railways is running 360 trains, including 190 special trains, to accommodate the unprecedented influx of pilgrims. “The special trains are being run in three zones — Northern Railway, North Eastern Railway and North Central Railway — to manage the massive influx of devotees,” Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board said.

The Uttar Pradesh government has deployed more than 1,000 medical professionals in the Maha Kumbh area, apart from provisions for minor to major surgeries in every sector of the fair area, an official statement said. Additionally, 300 specialist doctors are stationed at a super-specialty hospital in the Mahakumbh Nagar to handle any emergency situations.

Prayagraj:

The ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela has attracted a significant number of devotees to Prayagraj, where they come to take a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. As of afternoon on Tuesday, over 23.9 million people, including 1 million Kalpawasis, have taken a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, as per the Uttar Pradesh Information Department.

Meanwhile, over 147.6 million people have taken a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, and Yamuna rivers since the commencement of the event on January 13, as per the Uttar Pradesh Information Department.

Ahead of the 2nd Amrit Snan tomorrow on Mauni Amavasya; over 150 million devotees take a holy dip in the first 15 days of Maha kumbh2025.

Earlier in the day, Patanjali Ayurved’s Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna hailed the Maha Kumbh as the pride of Santan and urged the people to enjoy the festival and focus on internal purity.

Speaking to ANI, Balkrishna said, “Maha Kumbh is a pride of Sanatan. With holy dip at Triveni, we pray for happiness and to get rid of worldly and transcendental sorrow. All should enjoy this festival and should focus on internal purity.”

Tomorrow is Mauni Amavasya, which is the day of the Second Shahi Snan. Over 80 to 100 million people are expected to attend the event. Other key bathing dates of the Maha Kumbh include February 3 (Basant Panchami – Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

A devotee who came to Maha Kumbh said that despite the huge crowd, there was no stampede-like situation.

The Maha Kumbh is held every 12 years and a huge turnout of devotees is expected in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26.

Rooted in Sanatan Dharma, the event signifies a celestial alignment that creates an auspicious period for spiritual cleansing and devotion. The Mahakumbh Mela is expected to host over 45 crore visitors, marking a historic occasion for India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Spiritual orator and motivational speaker Jaya Kishori has appealed to the youth to experience the Maha Kumbh at Sangam to “achieve peace, happiness and bliss”. In an exclusive interview with NDTV on the sidelines of Maha Kumbh 2025 in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, Ms Kishori shared her “surreal” experience of taking a dip in the Sangam for the first time. She believes she is “blessed” to do “Amrit Snan”.

Before the Snan (bath), Ms Kishori experienced a mix of nervousness and excitement but tension vanished as soon as she took the dip, she said, and added, “You feel calmness from within. You feel a different kind of energy within you, a positive one, and I think this is what every youth is struggling towards.”

Ms Kishori said that today’s youth want permanent happiness. “What we call in our shastras, anand; not maza or masti, anand. If you want that, please attend these kinds of things … You will find something very different, but a very positive and enriching experience.”

Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest gathering of humanity, began on January 13 and will culminate on February 26. Held once every 12 years, people attend Maha Kumbh to take a dip in the sacred waters, believed to wash away sins and purify the soul. This year, Maha Kumbh is expected to host around 45 crore people over the 45 days celebration.

In October last year, Ms Kishori received huge backlash for carrying a custom Dior “Book Tote” worth over Rs. 2 lakh. Known for her teachings on non-materialism and spiritual growth, Ms Kishori spoke about blending materialism with spirituality and gave an example of Arjuna.

“In Bhagavad Gita, not once Arjuna said that you have to leave everything or you have to leave the kingdom. He was taught to fight and live up to his dharma (religion). And, his dharma was to fight. If you are a student, your dharma is to study. Not that you don’t have to earn money through that. Everybody is working towards money,” she said.

Ms Kishori further explained that one has two options after student life – grihastha (householder) and vairagya (detachment). “If you are opting for grihastha, you should have a materialistic life. Buying something is not a problem. It is when things buy you. With money, you can take your country forward. But keep spirituality with you.”

In March 2024, the spiritual orator received the ‘Best Creator Award for Social Change’ from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was praised for blending modernism with spirituality.