A 'Naga Sadhu' arrives to take a holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti' during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.
PTI
Prayagraj sees sea of devotees on Makar Sankranti
Akharas proceed for first 'Amrit Snan' of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj
Credit: X/@ANI
Maha Kumbh off to grand beginning, 1.5 crore devotees take holy dip in Sangam on day 1
The Maha Kumbh was off to a grand beginning on Tuesday with an estimated 1.5 crore devotees from across the world taking the holy dip in the sacred waters of Sangam -- the confluence of Ganga, Yamnu and the mythical Saraswati rivers -- on the occasion of ‘Paush Purnima’.
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The first Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh 2025 on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti has started with Sadhus from different Akharas
Anand Akhada Acharya Mandleswar Balkanand ji Maharaj leads the processions for the first Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti
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Crowd waiting to get a glimpse of Naga Sadhus going for Amrit Snan
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inspects Gorakhnath Temple and interacts with people in Gorakhpur
Vibrant sight of Akharas, sadhus and devotees heading towards Sangam for holy dip on Makar Sankranti in Prayagraj
Naga Sadhus take holy dip in Triveni Sangam
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More than 1 crore devotees have taken a holy dip till 8:30 am today: Information Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh
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Drone camera captures a bird's eye view of the first 'Amrit Snan' during the ongoing #MahakumbhMela2025 in Prayagraj, UP
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More than 1.38 crore devotees have taken a holy dip till 10 am today: UP Govt
I feel very excited. I bless everyone: Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, a devotee from Japan
The first day of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 gave the message of unity and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (world is one family) after people from many countries, every state of India, and every caste, participated in the Amrit Snan together: UP Govt
Glimpses from Maha Kumbh
Credit: PTI
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Flower petals showered on devotees taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam
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'Hearty congratulations to all the devotees who took part in the first Amrit Snan at Mahakumbh on the great festival of Makar Sankrant': PM Modi
'Around 132 patients have come here in emergency in the last 24 hours. All are healthy now': Manoj Kaushik of Central Hospital in Kumbh Mela district
By 3 pm, 2.50 crore devotees took the holy Amrit bath in Triveni: Mahakumbh official X handle
I&B ministry posts on pilgrims sharing MahaKumbh 2025 experiences and govt's 'efficient management'
WATCH: Devotees and visitors continue to arrive at Sangam in Prayagraj
Sanatan culture witnesses growing attraction among youth in Maha Kumbh: UP govt
Anchors, models and engineers, both from India and abroad, are increasingly embracing the Sanatan faith and spirituality, according to an official statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Today, on the first Amrit Snan festival, more than 3.50 crore saints & devotees bathed in the 'uninterrupted-clean Triveni': CM Yogi Adityanath
Maha Kumbh: Did you know? | TISS trained Prayagraj police
To prevent incidents at Maha Kumbh 2025, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), has been conducting specialised training programme for police personnel in Prayagraj since December 4, 2024. In collaboration with the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Authority, TISS imparted behaviour-oriented skills to 11,000 police officers.
Glimpses of Maha Kumbh 2025
Maha Kumbh: Did you know? | How mela turns into 'Tent City'
Around 1.50 lakh tents have been set up for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, welcoming millions of pilgrims and visitors. Referred to as the 'Tent City', it is one of the largest 'temporary city' to exist in the world. Set on the banks of the ghats, Tent City serves as an important hub for cultural exchanges.
Maha Kumbh: Did you know? | 2025 heralds the plastic-free' mela
Among many firsts, the Maha Kumbh will also be free of single-use plastic this time, emphasising celebrating an 'eco-friendly event' with sustainable practices. A group of volunteers associated with Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas and volunteers associated with environmental protection activities of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have taken the initiative of ‘One Bag, One Thali’. Under this, 15 lakh steel plates and 20 lakh cloth bags will be distributed free of cost in Mahakumbh mela area.
Maha Kumbh: Did you know? | Water sports for visitors
The mela has a water sports arena and floating jetties, providing as per the official Maha Kumbh website, a 'blend of spirituality and receration'.
Maha Kumbh: Did you know? | Gaming centre at Prayagraj railway station
In one of the more unique attractions for visitors to the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, the North Central Railway (NCR) has established a gaming zone at Prayagraj Junction.
I would like to thank PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath for making proper arrangements (for Maha Kumbh): Former BJP MP Jaya Prada
15 lakh devotees at Shri Gorakhnath Mandir offered the holy Khichdi of faith to Shiva avatar Mahayogi Guru Shri Gorakhnath ji: CM Yogi Adityanath
Maha Kumbh: Did you know? | 10 Digital Lost and Found centres set up; 2,750 crowd-monitoring cameras at event
Uttar Pradesh Police has set up ten state-of-the-art digital 'Khoya-Paya' Kendras across the Maha Kumbh Mela area to ensure the safety and convenience of millions of devotees.
Equipped with modern facilities, these centres feature waiting rooms, medical rooms, and refreshment area for women and children to provide immediate assistance to the devotees, officials said. Each centres is fitted with 55-inch LED screens connected to a public address system, which will display live updates about lost and found persons and items. The centres will also provide essential information on ghat arrangements and routes related to Maha Kumbh.
In addition, the mela also boasts of 2,750 cameras that will run 24X7 to provide live footage from the event.
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Four runaway siblings set up tea & snacks stall at Maha Kumbh
While this could be anybody's story, what sets the four siblings apart is that they left home without informing their parents, bought a pushcart, and set up a tea and snacks stall near Kali Road in Prayagraj, quietly slipping into the sea of humanity...
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FIR against Ballia youth for spreading false info about Maha Kumbh
A case has been registered against a youth for allegedly spreading false information on social media that 11 devotees died during a Maha Kumbh ritual in Prayagraj, police officials said on Tuesday.
According to police, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at Pakdi police station on the complaint of Station House Officer (SHO) Rajendra Prasad Singh. The accused, identified as Lalu Yadav Sanjeev, was booked under Section 353(2) of the BNS.
Referring to the FIR, the police said a complaint had been made by Avkush Kumar Singh on the social networking platform X on Monday.
Singh reported that the accused, linked to the Samajwadi Party, had posted false information on Facebook. The post alleged that "11 devotees have died of heart attack due to cold at the Maha Kumbh bathing event and the ICU emergency camps are overcrowded with patients".
All world tourism together cannot match Maha Kumbh: Union culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
All the tourism in the world together cannot match the numbers of those attending the Maha Kumbh, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Tuesday.
"We talk about the religious and social aspects of the Kumbh but perhaps no one has imagined the economic aspect of the Kumbh," Shekhawat said.
He quoted figures that say four crore tourists visit France, 4.5 crore tourists visit Thailand, 2-2.5 crore tourists visit Dubai but only 1.30 crore tourists visit India.
"But they don't see that 45 crore people are participating in the Kumbh alone. Tourism of the whole world put together cannot match the Maha Kumbh," the culture minister said.
He said if the religious places are taken into consideration, 4.5 crore people visit every year to visit Mahakal in Ujjain, they are also tourists but were never formalised and counted that economy.
"If 45 crore people are coming to the Kumbh, imagine how big is its contribution to the economy. We never tried to highlight this at the global stage. This time, we are expecting that 15-20 lakh international visitors will participate in Kumbh," he said.
Shekhawat said Kumbh is an opportunity for the world to see the grandness of India.
Dreadlocked Indian ascetics among 25 million who take holy dip in Kumbh festival
Naked Hindu ascetics smeared in holy ash charged into the waters of sacred rivers in India on Tuesday, as more than 25 million devotees flocked to the second day of the Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival, seeking absolution from their sins.
The 'royal bath' of the ascetics is a key part of the event, held every 12 years in the northern city of Prayagraj, because Hindus believe it confers salvation from the cycle of birth and death, in addition to the absolution of sins.
Thousands of devotees watched the immersion by the ascetics, dreadlocks flying and clad only in holy beads, though some carried tridents, spears, or maces, after a procession to the water accompanied by chants and the beat of drums. "The crowd today was fantastic," said ascetic Rakesh Kumar after his immersion at the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. "We need people to follow our faith and participate in festivals like this."
Nearly 15 million people, more than double the 6 million population of the city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, had taken a ritual dip on Monday, when the six-week festival, expected to attract more than 400 million people, began.
The Kumbh originates in a Hindu belief that four drops of the nectar of immortality fell to earth, one in Prayagraj, during a battle between the god Vishnu, known as the Preserver, and demons to possess a golden pitcher holding the elixir.
Every 12 years, the festival is described as 'maha' or great, as the timing is considered to render it more auspicious, drawing bigger crowds. More than 150,000 tents have been set up across 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres), or the size of 7,500 football fields, to accommodate visitors, and nearly as many toilets.
About 50,000 security officers are also on guard to ensure the event, touted to be the world's largest gathering of humanity, goes off smoothly.
WATCH: Evening aarti being performed at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj
Maha Kumbh 2025: Bathing dates
Maha Kumbh: Did you know? | 12 'temporary' ghats constructed to accommodate rush of pilgrims
Air India to operate daily Delhi-Prayagraj flights for Maha Kumbh
Air India will temporarily operate daily flights between the national capital and Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh to cater to the high travel demand.
In a release on Tuesday, the airline said it will operate the flights on the route from January 25 to February 28.
The flights will have economy and premium economy class seats.
"With convenient daytime departures in both directions, the flights enable seamless connections via Delhi to customers travelling to/from various parts of India as well as North America, Europe, Australia, and several countries in Southeast Asia," the release said.
Air India and Air India Express do not have regular services connecting Prayagraj.
Last month, SpiceJet announced that it would operate daily special flights connecting Prayagraj with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad for the Maha Kumbh Mela. These services will be available from January 12 to February 28.
IndiGo and Akasa Air also operate flights to Prayagraj from different cities.
Claims of grand arrangements at Maha Kumbh far from reality: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the government's claims of grand arrangements at the Maha Kumbh are "far from reality".
In a statement issued here, Yadav said, "Pilgrims are struggling for basic amenities like drinking water, food, and shelter. There is no one to hear their grievances. Senior citizens are forced to walk kilometres, and there are no measures for protection against the cold.
"Instead of supporting poor boatmen, the government has restricted their livelihoods,” the former chief minister added.
24X7 War Room set up at Rail Bhavan to monitor trains, amenities for Maha Kumbh 2025
A 24X7 War Room has been set up by the Railway Ministry in the Rail Bhavan here that provides a live feed of train movements and passenger services with cameras installed at nine stations and its adjoining areas of Prayagraj, an official said on Tuesday.
The Ministry has made elaborate arrangements for crores of devotees arriving from all across the country.
It has deputed more than two dozen railway officials and experts from various fields such as commercial, technical, safety etc in the War Room in various shifts to monitor live feed on the screens around the clock and advise the concerned staff on the ground to take the corrective measures if required.
These nine stations where devotees are arriving from various parts of the country are Prayagraj, Naini, Prayagraj Chheoki, Subedarganj, Prayagraj Sangam, Prayag Junction, Phaphamau Junction, Prayagraj Rambagh Station, and Jhunsi Station.
Consumer goods makers raise sales pitch at Maha Kumbh
Leading consumer goods companies have made a beeline around the Sangam area as Mahakumbh pilgrims continue to congregate in record numbers to take the holy dip.
Top brands, including Dettol, Dabur, Pepsico, Coca-Cola, and corporate houses such as ITC and Reliance have set up camp ashrams, lined up their products, and are distributing samples, refreshments. The unmissable signage boards make one thing clear: the companies are expecting to make their presence felt in the coming days.
The brands -- which have been facing headwinds owing to multiple factors led by rising prices and tepid sales in urban markets -- are taking the Mahakumbh as an opportunity to directly engage with the consumers -- especially the rural population -- and communicating with them through a host of special initiatives over 45-day-long events in which about 40 crore people are estimated to attend.
Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL), the FMCG arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries retail empire, is offering services and product availability of its consumer products to enhance the pilgrim journey.
"This will include providing essential refreshments to ensure pilgrims remain hydrated and energised during their spiritual quest. Signage and directional boards are also being installed to assist pilgrims with clear, easy-to-read signages and branding to navigate the vast expanse of the event smoothly," said RCPL Chief Operating Officer Ketan Mody.
It will also operate 'aaram sthal' (resting areas), designated comfortable rest zones to offer pilgrims a moment to relax during their long and often arduous journeys, he added.
FMCG brand Reckitt through its flagship hygiene brand Dettol will support nearly 15,000 sanitation workers by providing training programmes and making soaps accessible to them at Kumbh.
It is also deploying health and hygiene volunteers across all 25 sectors of the Kumbh, offering on-ground support and guidance to the pilgrims, under the campaign 'Dettol Banega Swasth India'.
"The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 provides a unique opportunity to embed hygiene practices into one of India's most culturally significant events. We are delighted to take ahead our long-standing partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and GIWA," said Reckitt -- South Asia Executive Vice President Gaurav Jain.
Homegrown FMCG firm said Dabur has also planned a series of consumer activations to strengthen connect with consumers during the Kumbh Mela.
"We feel direct engagement with consumers during such traditional melas that helps us strengthen our bond with consumers. They, in turn, get the opportunity to touch, feel and experience our products. This reinforces their long-standing trust in the brand Dabur," Dabur India CEO Mohit Malhotra said.
In rural markets, success depends highly on how a brand is positioned and promoted. The greater the strategic attention to a unique demand, the greater the chances of the product's success in rural pockets.