Mauni Amavasya: Prayagraj Magh Mela Braces for 3.5 Crore Devotees

Massive Turnout Expected for Mauni Amavasya Bath at Prayagraj Magh Mela

With Mauni Amavasya approaching, the Prayagraj Magh Mela administration has stepped up arrangements in anticipation of an unprecedented influx of pilgrims. Officials estimate that between 30 and 35 million devotees could take the holy dip on the main bathing day, making it one of the largest congregations of this year’s fair.

Additional Ghats and Route Diversions to Ease Pressure

To manage the scale of the gathering, the administration has expanded an additional bathing ghat, Kali Part–Two, within the mela area. Special arrangements have also been made in the Nagvasuki region for pilgrims arriving from the Lucknow and Ayodhya sides. This measure is aimed at reducing congestion at the Sangam and distributing crowds more evenly across the mela zone.

The ritual bathing began early on Friday, with steady crowds seen from the pre-dawn hours. Apart from the Sangam Nose, large numbers of devotees gathered at major ghats in Arail (Naini), Jhunsi, and other designated points in the Sangam area.

Early Footfall Signals Peak Days Ahead

On Friday alone, estimates suggest that 1.5 to 2 million devotees performed the ritual bath. By late evening, the administration recorded a presence of around 2.5 to 3 million people in the mela area, including a significant number of Kalpvasis. The arrival of pilgrims from across India and abroad has continued through the day, with officials expecting a further surge due to the weekend holidays.

Nine Circles, Holding Areas, and AI Surveillance

Mela Officer Rishiraj said the entire fair area has been divided into nine administrative circles. Sixteen holding areas have been created to regulate crowd movement, while parking facilities have been arranged across nearly 250 hectares. Given the projected turnout on Mauni Amavasya, traffic diversions, enhanced public transport coordination, and AI-based surveillance systems have been strengthened to ensure smoother movement and safety.

In addition, departments have been directed to fully implement plans related to water transport, radio communication, disaster response, crowd control, soft-skill deployment, pontoon bridges, fire services, security, intelligence, and cybercrime monitoring.

Rare Auspicious Yoga Adds to Pilgrim Rush

Adding to the significance of this year’s Mauni Amavasya is the formation of a rare Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga. According to Acharya Vivek Upadhyay of the Maa Kamakhya Jyotish Peeth in Guwahati, the Amavasya tithi begins at 11:53 pm on January 17 and continues until 1:09 am on January 18. Rituals performed during this period are traditionally considered highly auspicious, further contributing to the expected surge of devotees in Prayagraj.