1.3 crore devotees take holy dip on Mauni Amavasya morning at Sangam in Uttar Pradesh

More than 1.3 crore devotees took holy dip in the Ganga and Sangam at 8 am on Sunday, January 18, 2026, on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, the main bathing festival of the ongoing Magh Mela here, officials said.

Devotees started arriving at the Ganga and Sangam ghats from midnight, struggling with thick fog, and continued to flock from all directions till the early hours of the morning, a senior official from the Mela administration said.

Earlier, around 1.03 crore devotees had taken a dip in the water on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, while around 85 lakh people had bathed in the Ganga and Sangam on Ekadashi.

In Frames: Prayer in Prayagraj

Holy spot: Devotees take a dip in Triveni Sangam

Those seeking salvation: Women praying at the Magh Mela.

Accommodating devotees: Tents set up for pilgrims visiting ongoing Magh mela 2026 in Prayagaraj

Chanelling the Devotees: Devotees taking a holy dip ahead of the Mauni Amavasya festival atop the pontoon bridge at the mela.

On duty: Members of Uttar Pradesh’s anti-terrorism squad monitor the ongoing festivities at Sangam.

Inclusive belief: A kinnar saint in a religious gathering blesses a child.

High vigil: Police and Railway personnel monitor crowds at the Integrated Command and Control Center around the clock.

Religious rites: Two Hindu saints, immersed in prayer, perform evening rituals as dusk falls.

Of great interest: Aerial view of the flock of pilgrims gathered at Triveni Sangam.

Ceremonial commemoration: Priests perform Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in front of Mauni Amavasya during Magh Mela.

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Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agrawal said reflective tapes have been placed on poles in the mela area to help pilgrims navigate properly, while civil defense volunteers have also been deployed to guide devotees.

He said Magh Mela is spread over 800 hectares and divided into seven sectors. More than 25,000 toilets have been installed in the Mela area and more than 3,500 sanitation workers have been deployed to maintain cleanliness.

Ms. Agrawal added that a tent city with meditation and yoga facilities has been set up for tourists and pilgrims who wish to observe short-term Kalpvas (purification rituals). Services such as bicycle taxis and golf carts are also provided to ensure smooth movement.

Superintendent of Police (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey said that more than 10,000 police personnel have been deployed in the mela area to ensure safety and smooth movement of devotees. For crowd management and traffic regulation, 42 temporary parking bays with a capacity to accommodate over one lakh vehicles have been created this year.

He said a total length of 12,100 feet of swimming ghats equipped with all basic amenities required for Magh Mela 2025-26 has been constructed.