Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh):

The Uttar Pradesh police has set up a special floating police chowki (post) to assist devotees as the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh commenced on Monday, starting with the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh police built a special floating police chowki to help devotees as the 45-day #Mahakumbh2025 begins with the auspicious Paush Purnima, today pic.twitter.com/1JE2tzQ8mH

— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2025

Prayagraj witnessed a large gathering of devotees at Triveni Sangam with the ‘Shahi Snan’ on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima.

A large number of devotees continued to arrive at the bank of Triveni Sangam – a scared confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and ‘mystical’ Saraswati. Devotees took a holy dip and performed the sacred ritual on this auspicious occasion.

A devotee Vijay Kumar said, “… The arrangements here are very good. There is an arrangement for everything – for food and accommodation… the roads are also good.”

“We go to Kumbh Mela wherever it is organised. I live in a small temple – I go to every pilgrim in India…,” another devotee said.

This year, Maha Kumbh, the largest spiritual gathering in the world, has become more special because of the rare celestial alignment that occurs only once in 144 years.

Traffic Police authorities have made elaborate arrangements and implemented a detailed plan to ensure smooth vehicular movement and safety for devotees visiting the Maha Kumbh Mela.

Notably, the entry route to the Sangam Mela area will be through Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (Black Road), while the exit route will be via Triveni Marg. During the major bathing festivals, the Akshayavat Darshan will remain closed for visitors.

Parking lots for vehicles coming from Jaunpur would include Chini Mill Parking, Purva Surdas Parking, Garapur Road, Samyamai Temple Kachar Parking and Badra Saunoti Rahimapur Marg, Northern/Southern Parking.

Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar talked about the preparations made for the Mahakumbh, saying that attention has been paid to the infrastructure of the railway stations.

“A lot of attention has been paid to the infrastructure of the railway stations. We have built new stations. We will run around 13,000 trains including the special and regular trains. This time 10,000 regular and 3,000 special trains will run,” Mr Kumar told ANI.

The Maha Kumbh is being celebrated after 12 years, and over 45 crore devotees are expected for the event. The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26.

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

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh):

The Uttar Pradesh government has implemented extensive security measures and made elaborate arrangements to ensure a safe and grand celebration of Maha Kumbh 2025.

With the deployment of thousands of AI-powered CCTVs, underwater drones, and state-of-the-art facilities for visitors and devotees, the state government and administration are ready for the grand mela, scheduled to begin on January 13 in Prayagraj.

The Maha Kumbh, held once every 12 years, will conclude on February 26.

On Sunday, police and paramilitary forces conducted security checks and area domination patrolling to ensure security preparedness in the mela area.

Jagdish Kaliraman, ACP (Parade Area Kumbh), said that they are conducting regular checks and monitoring based on instructions from senior officials.

“We are doing security checks constantly at the parade point, as the public will enter and exit from this point. It is a sensitive point, so manual and equipment-based checking is ongoing. We are also checking at the district hospital where people come for health check-ups,” the ACP said.

Prayagraj Commissioner of Police, Tarun Gauba, also visited various akharas and interacted with saints and sadhus to assess the arrangements.

“We are visiting different akharas, establishing contact with sadhus and saints to ensure everything is in place. We are also in touch with all the stakeholders here and ensuring security arrangements are ready,” Commissioner Gauba told ANI.

Speaking about underwater drones, the Commissioner said, “We have an underwater drone to monitor any security issues and meet disaster management needs.”

Alongside the security efforts, a ‘Netra Kumbh’ event is also being organized to provide free eye check-ups and spectacles to lakhs of people. The event, recognized in the Limca Book of Records, is aiming for a mention in the Guinness World Records as well.

Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj, the chief guest, highlighted the importance of the initiative.

“The eye is the most sensitive organ, and through ‘Netra Kumbh,’ we aim to help as many people as possible,” he said. Last time, 1 lakh pairs of spectacles were distributed, and this year, more will be provided.

For devotees seeking a VIP bathing experience, a floating self-propelled jetty is being placed to provide a serene experience away from the crowd at Sangam Ghat. Developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, the jetty has been built a a team, Prof Ranadev Datta with work progressing rapidly in Arail.

“This time on the occasion of Maha Kumbh, the government is going to make some different arrangements for the devotees. If the devotees bathing in Sangam want to take a VIP bath away from the crowd then a floating self-propelled jetty will be placed for them,” Prof Datta told ANI.

He added further, “Das & Kumar Company of Varanasi has been given the responsibility of building the VVIP jetty. This work is going on at a fast pace in Arail.”

Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh government has deployed 40 electric buses for devotees, with 30 more buses expected from Lucknow to ensure seamless transportation across various routes.

As Maha Kumbh preparations intensify, multiple sages and akharas are drawing attention.

Notable figures such as Bavander Baba, who travelled over 100,000 kilometres, and Splendor Baba, a differently-abled individual who journeyed from Gujarat on a three-wheeler motorcycle, are attending the Kumbh Mela.

Anjana Giri, originally from Italy, embraced Sanatan Dharma 30 years ago and has since been an active advocate of Hindutva.

Since then, she has fully embraced Hinduism, becoming an active member of the Atal Akhada and a passionate advocate of Hindutva.

The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami).

Pilgrims will gather at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, to take a holy dip believed to absolve sins and grant moksha (liberation). The Maha Kumbh Mela is expected to host over 45 crore visitors.

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