On Saturday, a massive turnout of devotees gathered at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj to take a holy dip at the sacred Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, more than 3.324 million devotees had taken the ritualistic dip by 9 a.m. on the day. The total number of participants has now surpassed 501.1 million, with the Mela becoming the world’s largest spiritual gathering.
The event has now set a global record as the first in history to surpass 500 million direct participants—an astounding figure that exceeds the population of major countries such as the United States, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
With the growing number of attendees, the Uttar Pradesh administration has issued new guidelines for traffic and bathing arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. Devotees coming from the Parade Mela area will be able to bathe at both the Sangam and other ghats in the vicinity. Those arriving from the Jhunsi fair area will be directed to bathing ghats near Jhunsi, while similar arrangements have been made for devotees from the Arali side.
To maintain order and ensure safety, the entire Mahakumbh area has been designated as a “No Vehicle” zone, with only Mela Police-authorized vehicles allowed entry. Other visitors must park at designated spots. Emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, as well as those for food and logistics, will be permitted.
The administration has urged all devotees to follow the rules set by the authorities and cooperate with the traffic police to ensure a safe and smooth experience for all.
In addition, Northern Railway has introduced two special Vande Bharat trains running on February 15, 16, and 17 to accommodate the large number of pilgrims attending the event.
