A massive surge of faith was witnessed at the Sangam in Prayagraj on the auspicious occasion of Ekadashi, as lakhs of devotees gathered to take a holy dip at various ghats. The ongoing Magh Mela turned into a sea of humanity with pilgrims arriving in large numbers since the early morning hours, especially at the Triveni Sangam. The crowd intensity and visuals reminded many of the Maha Kumbh, with devotees calling the Magh Mela a “Mini Kumbh” due to the scale of participation. According to local administration estimates, nearly 1.8 million devotees had taken a ritual bath by midday. The Magh Mela, which began on Paush Purnima, will continue for around 44 days and includes several significant bathing dates such as Makar Sankranti and Ekadashi. Devotees from different districts and states praised the spiritual atmosphere and overall arrangements, though some raised concerns over long walking routes and diversions. The administration has deployed extensive security, crowd management teams, medical facilities, and traffic control measures to ensure safety amid the massive turnout. Officials stated that elaborate preparations were made in anticipation of heavy crowds, with continuous monitoring to avoid overcrowding and ensure smooth movement of pilgrims.


