15 million take dip as 45-day Maha Kumbh begins

With a sea of devotees taking a holy dip in 'triveni sangam' (confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythological Saraswati) on the occasion of 'Paush Purnima', the 45-day Mahakumbh 2025 began in UP's Prayagraj on Monday.

Also Read: Maha Kumbh 2025: Millions take 'amrit snan' on Makar Sankranti



CM Yogi Adityanath has tweeted that nearly 15 million people had taken a dip (snan) at Mahakumbh. The spiritual gathering will end on February 26.

Mahakumbh 2025 also marks the commencement of 'Kalpvas', a Hindu tradition marked by month-long rituals of simplicity and devotion. During Kalpvas, devotees observe rituals, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and purification, at the Sangam ghats. The administration has set up tents for around seven lakh 'Kalpvasis'.

Although Mahakumbh is held every 12 years, the 2025 gathering is seen as a special one as this marks the completion of 12 Kumbh mela cycles, occurring in 144 years. The spiritual importance of Mahakumbh 2025 is also highlighted because of a rare planetary alignment which occurs only once in 144 years.

The Yogi government has made special arrangements for proper crowd management at the Mahakumbh Nagar, spread over 4,000 hectares. The administration expects more than 400 million devotees to participate in the mela. The Centre and the state government has been working in tandem for several months to provide facilities as the world's largest religious gathering.

Devotees have started arriving at Mahakumbh Nagar not only from the different states, but also from abroad. As per an estimate, guests from 134 countries are expected to attend Mahakumbh 2025. At Sangam Ghat, a stream of international pilgrims and spiritual seekers joined the festivities on Monday.

According to a press release issued by the UP government, several YouTubers from South Korea were seen capturing the heavenly experience on their cameras, while tourists from Japan engaged with local guides to understand the cultural and spiritual significance of the event. On Monday, devotees from various countries, including Russia, USA, Germany, Italy, and Ecuador, who are believers in Hinduism, also took a holy dip on the first day of Mahakumbh 2025.