PRAYAGRAJ: On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, which also marks the last bathing day of the ongoing Magh Mela, around 21 lakh devotees had taken a holy dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam till 10 am on Sunday, officials said.
A mela authority official informed that pilgrims began arriving at the fair area late Saturday night, with continuous footfall witnessed through the early hours of Sunday. “By 10 am, nearly 21 lakh devotees have bathed in the Ganga and the Triveni Sangam,” the official said.
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma stated that elaborate security and safety arrangements have been put in place at all ghats to ensure the smooth conduct of the ritual bathing.
Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed, along with boatmen and trained divers, to prevent any untoward incidents.
The district administration has also ensured adequate changing rooms at all ghats for devotees. The entire fair area is being closely monitored through CCTV cameras and drones to maintain security and crowd management.
Mahashivratri holds special religious significance, and the final snan of the Magh Mela traditionally draws massive crowds of devotees seeking spiritual merit by taking a dip at the confluence of the sacred rivers.
