Mahashivratri holy dip: Lakhs of devotees gather at Sangam for final bath of Maha Kumbh on Mahashivratri

Mahashivratri holy dip: The grand spectacle of Maha Kumbh 2025 has reached its final stage as lakhs of devotees gathered at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj to take the last holy bath on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri. The religious gathering, held once every twelve years, has so far attracted a record-breaking 65 crore devotees, making it one of the largest spiritual gatherings in the world.

The Maha Kumbh began on January 13 (Paush Purnima) and has been a vibrant display of faith and devotion. With a grand procession of Naga sadhus and three important ‘Amrit Snaans’, the event has upheld the deep traditions of Hinduism. On the day of the final bath, holy chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ reverberated in the air as devotees from across the country and even beyond the country’s borders took a holy dip at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was keeping a close watch on the event from Gorakhpur, congratulated all the saints, kalpvasis and pilgrims who took part in the holy bath. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he expressed his best wishes, stressing the importance of Maha Shivratri in the Maha Kumbh.

According to government data, the number of devotees taking the bath rose steadily throughout the night. Over 11.66 lakh people had taken a dip at the Sangam by 2 am, which rose to 25.64 lakh within two hours. By 6 am, the number had almost doubled to 41.11 lakh.

Many pilgrims had started gathering on the banks of the Sangam since midnight, eager to take a dip at ‘Brahma Muhurta’, the most auspicious time for the ritual. Others, who could not wait, completed their bathing rituals even before the scheduled time.

Maha Kumbh is known as the world’s biggest spiritual festival, which attracts devotees from all corners of India, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Some pilgrims even came from Nepal to participate in the holy bath on the last day.

Rajveer Singh Jhala, a 20-year-old BBA student from Rajkot, was one of those who took the holy dip with his family. Reflecting on the spiritual experience, he said, “For me Lord Shiva represents ‘shunyata’ (emptiness). One should feel that they are nothing in front of him. What really matters is the goodness within. Only physical bathing in the Sangam cannot purify a person if there is impurity in his heart.”

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Maha Shivaratri is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, symbolizing their divine union. In the context of the Kumbh Mela, it has even deeper significance. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva played a key role during the Samudra manthan (churning of the ocean), which eventually led to the emergence of the Amrit Kumbh (pot of nectar), which is the essence of the Kumbh Mela.

This spiritual belief draws millions of pilgrims to the Triveni Sangam, where they take a dip in the holy water to receive purification and divine blessings. Ensuring the safety and smooth movement of such a huge crowd is a challenging task. With over 64 crore pilgrims visiting the Maha Kumbh so far, the Uttar Pradesh government has implemented stringent measures for crowd control. A ‘no-vehicle zone’ has been enforced in the mela area and Prayagraj to facilitate seamless movement and prevent overcrowding.

DiG (Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna, shedding light on the elaborate security arrangements, said, “We are prepared to tackle two major challenges – crowd control at the ghats, especially at the Sangam, and crowd control at the five main Shiva temples, where devotees will offer the holy water.” He also emphasised that no VIP facilities would be provided on the last day, ensuring equal access to all devotees.

During the 45-day festival, six major bathing dates marked the spiritual journey of millions of devotees:

• Paush Purnima (January 13)
• Makar Sankranti (January 14)
• Mauni Amavasya (January 29)
• Basant Panchami (February 3)
• Maghi Purnima (February 12)
• Maha Shivratri (February 26)

The three ‘Amrit Snans’ were particularly significant, drawing the largest number of devotees.

With the conclusion of Maha Kumbh 2025, its impact on India’s spiritual and cultural landscape remains profound. This unparalleled event, uniting millions in devotion and faith, reaffirms the deep traditions that continue to define the spiritual ethos of the country.