Kumbh attendance breaches 45-crore mark, over 1.25 cr take dip on Tuesday

Prayagraj: With 15 days remaining for the conclusion of Maha Kumbh, official attendance has breached the 45-crore mark with over 1.25 crore devotees taking a dip at Sangam on Tuesday itself.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's earlier prediction about this year's Maha Kumbh setting a historic record of 45 crore devotees has been realised, a fortnight before the event's completion.Notably, this milestone has been achieved despite two significant bathing occasions, Maghi Purnima and Mahashivratri, still pending. Authorities anticipate the final count to reach 50-55 crore.The 45-day Maha Kumbh, which commenced on Jan 13, will conclude on Feb 26.Despite the completion of three major Amrit Snans—Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya and Basant Panchami—devotee enthusiasm remains strong. People continue arriving from across India and internationally, drawn to Prayagraj's spiritual significance.By 4 pm, over 1.09 crore people had bathed in the Triveni, bringing the total to 45.83 crore. This included 10 lakh Kalpvasis, saints and international devotees.Statistics show Mauni Amavasya recorded the highest attendance with 8 crore devotees while Makar Sankranti saw 3.5 crore participants. Feb 1 and Jan 30 each witnessed over 2 crore devotees, Paush Purnima attracted 1.7 crore and Basant Panchami recorded 2.57 crore bathers. Pre-Magh Purnima daily average stands at 1.44 crore devotees.President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with his cabinet have already taken holy dip at Sangam.Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, Manipur CM N Biren Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Shripad Naik, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy, Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, SP president Akhilesh Yadav, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey, Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan, Mathura MP Hema Malini, former MP Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua', Bollywood actresses Bhagyashree, Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, poet Kumar Vishwas, cricketer Suresh Raina, international wrestler Khali, choreographer Remo D'Souza, actress Isha Gupta, apart from senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, also took a bath in the Sangam.