Magh Mela concludes on Maha Shivratri; over 22 crore devotees take holy dip in Prayagraj

The annual Magh Mela, symbolising faith, penance and devotion, concluded on Sunday on the sacred occasion of Maha Shivratri at the holy Sangam in Prayagraj, with more than 22 crore devotees taking part in the 44-day-long religious congregation.

The Sangam city reverberated with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Om Namah Shivaya” as lakhs of devotees gathered for the final holy dip. On the occasion of the Maha Shivratri Snan Parv, more than 40 lakh pilgrims took a dip at the Triveni Sangam, marking the culmination of the festival. Officials said this was the highest-ever footfall recorded in any Magh Mela.

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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath closely monitored the arrangements throughout the event and continued to review preparations even on the concluding day.

In Gorakhpur, the Chief Minister performed Rudrabhishek and Jalabhishek at the Gorakhnath Temple and prayed for the health, prosperity and well-being of the people. He also offered prayers at the Mansarovar Temple and Piteshwarnath Shiv Temple, seeking welfare for all.

Meanwhile, in Varanasi, Maha Shivratri was celebrated with great fervour at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Devotees were welcomed with a shower of flowers, and offerings received from 63 temples across India and abroad were presented to Lord Shri Vishweshwar during the midday Bhog Aarti. By evening, more than 5.2 lakh devotees had paid obeisance.

The festival was also celebrated with devotion in Ayodhya, where lakhs of devotees thronged the Nageshwar Nath and Kshireshwar Nath temples. Elaborate security arrangements were made, with Ayodhya Dham divided into five zones and 12 sectors, and additional police personnel deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the celebrations.

The conclusion of the Magh Mela on Maha Shivratri marked the end of weeks of intense spiritual observances, drawing millions of devotees from across the country and beyond.