The grand Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, one of the largest spiritual gatherings in the world, is reaching its grand conclusion today, on Wednesday, February 26, with the final Amrit Snan (sacred bath) at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The last holy dip, coinciding with the festival of Maha Shivratri, saw an overwhelming turnout of devotees, including saints, monks, and pilgrims from across India and beyond.The spiritual gathering, marked by celestial alignments that happen once in 144 years, has drawn over 65 crore people since its beginning on January 13, 2025.
Maha Shivratri: The Sacred Day of Final Snan
Maha Shivratri holds deep religious importance, symbolizing the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and celebrating Lord Shiva's role in the Samudra Manthan, which produced the Amrit Kumbh.
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Maha Shivratri Significance: It is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, known as the protector and destroyer of evil. This year’s Maha Shivratri is especially significant, given its occurrence during the Maha Kumbh Mela, marking the final, most auspicious holy dip.
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Celestial Alignment: This year’s Maha Kumbh Mela is unique due to a rare celestial alignment that occurs only once every 144 years, further enhancing the sacredness of this event.
The Maha Kumbh Mela featured six major sacred snans, including three Amrit Snans:
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Paush Purnima (January 13)
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Makar Sankranti (January 14)
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Mauni Amavasya (January 29)
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Basant Panchami (February 3)
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Maghi Purnima (February 12)
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Maha Shivratri (February 26)
Massive Turnout on the Final Day
As the final day unfolded on February 26, millions of pilgrims, monks, and devotees from all corners of India and beyond gathered at the Triveni Sangam to take the auspicious Amrit Snan. Devotees from states like West Bengal, Karnataka, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, as well as from Nepal, made their way to Prayagraj, contributing to what is considered the world’s largest spiritual gathering.
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Over 41 Million Devotees Expected to Participate: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reported that over 41.11 lakh devotees had already taken the holy dip by 6 AM, with numbers continuing to grow throughout the day.
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Massive Devotional Influx: As of early morning, over 25.64 lakh people had bathed by 4 AM, and the numbers continued to rise, with significant crowds arriving to witness the final rituals.
Security and Crowd Management Measures
Given the massive influx of devotees, authorities enforced tight security measures, especially following a stampede incident earlier in the event. The entire Mela ground was designated a ‘No Vehicle Zone’, and no VIP privileges were granted to any individual.
Deployment for Security and Surveillance:
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37,000 police personnel and 14,000 home guards deployed across the area.
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2,750 AI-powered CCTV cameras monitored the crowd.
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Three Jal Police stations and 18 control rooms were set up for safety.
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50 watchtowers were installed for crowd surveillance.
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Social media platforms were closely monitored to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Traffic and Crowd Management in Prayagraj
Authorities issued specific guidelines to ensure smooth crowd movement.
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Devotees coming from Uttar Jhunsi were directed to Harishchandra Ghat and Old GT Ghat.
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Those from Dakshini Jhunsi were guided towards Arail Ghat.
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Pilgrims from Pande area were directed to Bharadwaj Ghat, Nagavasuki Ghat, Mori Ghat, Kali Ghat, Ram Ghat, and Hanuman Ghat.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Devotees continue to arrive in large numbers at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj to be a part of #MahaKumbh2025 on its last day. The Mela will conclude today, 26th February, on Maha Shivratri.
Drone visuals from the area. pic.twitter.com/g78va4B0Kq— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2025
Devotional Activities and Crowds at Key Locations
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Triveni Sangam: The Triveni Sangam, the most sacred site of the Mela, hosted the largest number of devotees, as they performed the final snan. The authorities implemented specific crowd management protocols at key bathing ghats like Harishchandra Ghat and Arail Ghat.
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Pilgrims from Nepal: Devotees from Nepal also participated, underscoring the global significance of the Maha Kumbh. Special facilities were set up for them to ensure safe participation in the final rituals.
Morning Footfall Data
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By 2 AM (Wednesday): Over 11.66 lakh devotees had already bathed at the Triveni Sangam.
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By 4 AM: The number rose to 25.64 lakh.
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By 6 AM: The figure nearly doubled to 41.11 lakh devotees.
The authorities expected the total footfall to surpass the earlier day’s figure of 1.33 crore.
Railway and Transport Arrangements
To accommodate the vast number of devotees, Indian Railways deployed over 350 additional trains from Prayagraj. The railway system had already managed over 2 million passengers during Mauni Amavasya, and similar arrangements were made for Maha Shivratri.
Key Railway Measures:
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60 scheduled trains (regular + special Mela trains) were operated until 4 PM on Tuesday.
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25 additional special trains were deployed for Maha Shivratri.
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Security at railway stations was strengthened, with:
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850 RPF personnel and 290 commercial staff at Jhusi station.
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500 RPF personnel and 250 commercial staff at Prayagraj Rambagh.
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw personally supervised the arrangements.
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Special waiting arrangements and designated holding areas at stations were made for passengers traveling to and from Prayagraj, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.
Fire Safety Measures at the Mela
Safety remained a priority, especially with several fire incidents reported during the ongoing event. While no casualties were reported, authorities strengthened fire safety protocols by placing 50 fire stations and 20 fire posts on standby. Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma confirmed these precautionary measures to ensure a safe environment for the millions of devotees.
Arrangements for Pilgrims at Varanasi
In anticipation of the significant rush of devotees traveling from Prayagraj to Varanasi, authorities took special measures to handle the crowd and traffic.
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Traffic Management: In Varanasi, heavy traffic congestion was anticipated due to the large number of pilgrims arriving from Prayagraj. A traffic diversion plan and strict vehicle entry restrictions were enforced within city limits.
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Railway Management: The authorities set up designated holding areas at railway stations, ensuring organized movement of passengers to their respective trains. Special trains were allocated to handle the flow of pilgrims traveling to Prayagraj, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and other destinations.
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Special Railways Arrangements: Over 350 special trains were operational to accommodate the increased footfall during the event.
CM Yogi Adityanath’s Message to Devotees
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended warm greetings to devotees, emphasizing the unifying power of Lord Shiva’s worship. He highlighted that Jyotirlingas (sacred shrines of Lord Shiva) act as symbols of national integration and that devotion to Shiva strengthens India’s cultural and spiritual fabric.
In his message, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
Hearty congratulations to all the revered saints, Kalpvasis, and devotees who have come to take a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam today on the holy bathing festival of Maha Shivratri dedicated to the worship of Lord Bholenath in Maha Kumbh-2025, Prayagraj…..Har Har Mahadev!
As the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 concludes, the final day of the event marks the culmination of a journey filled with devotion, faith, and unity. The authorities, devotees, and pilgrims have worked together to ensure the safety and sanctity of the event, making the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 one of the largest and most successful spiritual gatherings in history.
As millions return to their homes, the memories of the Maha Kumbh Mela and the divine experiences shared by all will linger in their hearts for years to come.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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