Desk:Today marks the sixth and final holy bath of Mahakumbh 2025 on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri. A massive number of devotees are arriving at the sacred Triveni Sangam for a holy dip. The entire Kumbh Mela area is on high alert, with drones and AI cameras monitoring the event. Vehicle entry has been completely restricted in the fairground. It is estimated that around two crore devotees will take a dip today. By 7 AM, nearly 41 lakh people had already bathed. So far, over 65 crore devotees have visited Mahakumbh and taken a dip in the holy waters.
Due to the massive crowd expected today, high-security measures have been enforced. The same crowd management and security arrangements implemented during Vasant Panchami and Maghi Purnima bathing days are in place. Additionally, a helicopter will shower 25 quintals of flower petals on the devotees.
With the final bathing day on Wednesday, the 45-day-long grand religious event, which began on January 13, will conclude. Officials finalized all necessary preparations a day before the event. A 24-hour control room at I-Triple-C has been set up to monitor all activities across the fairground, including the ghats, holding areas, railway stations, and bus stands. The team will coordinate the movement of devotees, ensuring that in case of excessive crowding, visitors are halted outside the main Mela area. The fairground will follow a one-way system, with entry from Kali Road and exit via Triveni Marg.
Authorities have appealed to devotees to bathe at their nearest ghats to avoid overcrowding and maintain order. In addition to Sangam, arrangements have been made at Arail, Jhunsi, Ram Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, and Nagvasuki for bathing. A day before Maha Shivratri, straw was laid on ghats, and cleanliness drives were carried out. Sanitation workers have been instructed to clean the ghats every hour.
Devotees visiting Prayagraj for Maha Shivratri will not only take a dip at Sangam but also visit nearby Shiva temples. The closest temples in the Mela area include Dashashwamedh Temple, Someshwar Mahadev, and Mankameshwar Temple, where devotees will start queuing up before 4 AM. DM of Mahakumbh Nagar, Vijay Kiran Anand, has instructed officials to ensure at least two officers are present for monitoring at these temples, focusing on entry and exit management to prevent any inconvenience to devotees.
Special security arrangements have been made for the final bathing day of Mahakumbh. The Mela area has been declared a No-Vehicle Zone until 8 AM on February 27, and restrictions may be extended based on crowd conditions. Along with police personnel, paramilitary forces have also been deployed at Sangam and other ghats. Separate routes have been designated for devotee arrivals and departures.
DM Vijay Kiran Anand stated that Maha Shivratri is one of the most significant bathing festivals of Mahakumbh. To ensure a smooth experience for devotees, administrative and security measures have been strengthened, allowing people to bathe with ease.