Millions Gather for Magh Mela's Sacred Celebration

Millions of devotees congregate at the Ganga and Sangam for Makar Sankranti as part of the Magh Mela. This spiritual gathering attracts pilgrims across India, requiring extensive security and infrastructure to manage the crowds. Significant cultural events mark the month-long festival, celebrating ancient traditions and holy rituals.

On Wednesday morning, more than nine lakh devotees gathered to take a holy dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam during the Makar Sankranti festivities, officials reported. Despite different parts of India celebrating the harvest festival, Uttar Pradesh observes Makar Sankranti the following day.

The second major bathing event of this year's Magh Mela, Makar Sankranti, is slated for Thursday. According to Superintendent of Police Neeraj Pandey, by 6 AM, over nine lakh individuals had already performed the spiritual ritual, with numbers expected to rise exponentially by the evening.

In anticipation of the surge, 10,000 police officers are deployed to maintain safety and traffic flow. The event, held until February 15, anticipates one crore to 1.5 crore pilgrims. Additional facilities include 42 parking areas for one lakh vehicles and extensive ghats equipped with amenities to accommodate the influx of devotees.

(With inputs from agencies.)