A sea of devotees streamed towards the Triveni Sangam—the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—on Wednesday, marking the final holy bath (snan) of the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, by 6 p.m., over 1.44 crore people had taken a holy dip on this concluding day, pushing the total footfall for the 45-day event past an astonishing 66 crore—a historic record.
Chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ Fill the Air
Devotees had begun gathering at various ghats in Prayagraj from midnight, eagerly waiting for the Brahma Muhurta, the most auspicious time for the holy dip. The air resonated with chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’, as lakhs immersed themselves in devotion.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his greetings to the pilgrims and personally monitored the arrangements from Gorakhpur, alongside senior officials.
Taking to social media, he expressed his prayers:
“Heartfelt greetings to all revered sadhus, saints, kalpvasis, and devotees who have come to take a dip of faith at the Triveni Sangam. May Lord Shiva and Mother Ganga bless everyone with well-being. Har Har Mahadev!”
In another post, he called the Maha Kumbh “unprecedented in world history”, highlighting that from January 13 (Paush Purnima) to Maha Shivaratri (February 26), a staggering 66.21 crore devotees had taken a dip at the Triveni Sangam.
Devotion Across the State
Apart from Prayagraj, Shiva temples across Uttar Pradesh witnessed massive crowds. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi saw thousands offering prayers on Maha Shivaratri.
To manage the immense crowd, the district administration enforced a “no-vehicle zone” in the fair area and across Prayagraj, ensuring smooth crowd movement and security.
A Grand Farewell by the Indian Air Force
As the Maha Kumbh drew to a close, the Indian Air Force (IAF) honored the occasion with a breathtaking aerial display. Sukhoi fighter jets, AN-32 transport planes, and helicopters performed stunning maneuvers in the sky over Prayagraj, marking a fitting farewell to the world’s largest religious gathering.
Held every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh 2025 began on January 13 and witnessed six major bathing days, culminating in the final snan on Maha Shivaratri (February 26).