The 2025 Maha Kumbh, the grand spiritual occasion, has begun in Prayagraj. Devotees have been congregating at the Sangam to take holy dip in the sacred immersion at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers.
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar stated on Monday afternoon that around 1 crore individuals participated in this holy ceremony on the inaugural ‘Amrit snan’ day.
The event is carefully organized, featuring arrangements such as 0.15 million toilets, 15,000 sanitation personnel, and 2,500 Ganga Seva Doots (volunteers).
The Mela area contains 0.15 million tents and is lit up by 69,000 LED lights, featuring solar hybrid street lighting. Moreover, there are 2,750 cameras for crowd monitoring and a 24/7 Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).
MAJOR SECURITY MEASURES
To guarantee safety at the event, more than 10,000 staff from local police and paramilitary units have been assigned. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed a “water ambulance” at Sangam. This ambulance is outfitted with medical equipment and manned by doctors and NDRF personnel to function continuously during the entire event.
DGP Kumar mentioned that law enforcement officers are diligently surveilling the region with drones. Underwater drones are also used for security reasons. He verified that there have been no incidents reported so far in Prayagraj or the state. Top officials and the Chief Minister’s Office are closely monitoring the situation.
Also read: About 60% terrorists killed in 2024 were Pakistani, says Army Chief
The Transport Department has facilitated seamless travel for pilgrims arriving by road. Traffic movement is unimpeded on all routes heading to Prayagraj. Any deficiencies found in today’s plans will be rectified to enhance tomorrow’s ‘Amrit snan’. A mobile police station has been set up to help devotees throughout this 45-day event.
3 MAJOR DAYS OF SHAHI SNAN
January 14: First Shahi Snan on Makar Sankranti
January 29: Second Shahi Snan on Mauni Amavasya
February 3: Third Shahi Snan on Basant Panchami
Although millions of devotees are anticipated to gather in Prayagraj for the six sacred bathing days, individuals wishing to avoid the crowds on Shahi Snans can choose to participate on alternative days throughout the 45-day duration of the world’s largest peaceful assembly. In this manner, worshippers can guarantee a more peaceful and less congested experience for their sacred immersion.
