Maha Kumbh 2025: Over 40 crore pilgrims have taken dip at Sangam

Two pilgrims returning from the Maha Kumbh Mela were killed and about a dozen others were injured when the mini-bus they were travelling in rammed into a stationary bus on the roadside on Friday morning, police said. The incident took place on the Yamuna Expressway under Tappal police station area here, they added.

The deceased have been identified as Pavan (53) and Mahendra (73), police said.

The number of pilgrims who have taken a holy dip at the Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh surpassed the 40 crore-mark on Friday, the Uttar Pradesh government said. It said 48 lakh devotees had taken a dip at the Sangam -- the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers -- on Friday.

A fire broke out at the ISKCON camp in Mahakumbh Nagar on Friday and quickly spread to over a dozen nearby camps, leaving them gutted, officials said. No casualties have been reported.

Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma told PTI that the blaze was reported at 10.35 am after which around a dozen water tenders were rushed to the spot.

"Upon receiving information about the fire at the ISKCON camp in Sector 18, fire tenders were immediately dispatched. The fire was contained fully in half an hour," he said.

The fire spread to over a dozen nearby camps, causing significant damages.

Officials said the cause of the fire and the damage incurred due to it were being ascertained.

DIG (Maha Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna said the fire incident has "completely been controlled" by the fire brigades.

"There is no one injured in it," he posted on X.

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Thursday participated in the Maha Kumbh and said the mega Hindu pilgrimage serves as a "beacon of peace, unity and service for the entire world".

According to an official release, the governor visited the Parmarth Niketan camp, where he was in the presence of Swami Chidanand Saraswati. The occasion saw in-depth discussions on spiritual philosophy, Indian culture, Ganga conservation, and global peace.

Uttar Pradesh's Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta apprised the governor of the extensive arrangements made by the state government for the Maha Kumbh.

He elaborated on security measures, transportation facilities, healthcare services, and the seamless organization of spiritual events.

Governor Khan described the Maha Kumbh as "a profound spiritual experience".

Calling the festival "a symbol of India's spiritual heritage", he said, "It serves as a beacon of peace, unity, and service for the entire world".

The Uttar Pradesh Government confirmed on Thursday that 7.1 million people had taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj by 6 PM during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela.

Over 6.1 million devotees visited the Maha Kumbh today, and 1 million Kalpawasis continued their holy ritual of bathing, bringing the total to 71 million devotees, according to the figures provided by the state government.

According to the government, more than 3.79 million devotees took a holy dip till 8 AM, meaning that over 3.31 million devotees took a holy bath after 8 AM till 6 PM.

The event has been hailed as a spiritual and cultural extravaganza, as the UP government confirmed that 389.7 million have taken a 'snan' (holy dip) till February 5, since the commencement of the festival.

Eight people died and six got injured after a roadways bus rammed into a car in Dudu town near Jaipur on Thursday afternoon, police said. Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Khandelwal said the bus went out of control and hit the car after one of its tyres burst. Eight people travelling in the car died on the spot.

The accident took place in Mokhampura area on Jaipur-Ajmer Highway.

According to the police, a Jodhpur depot roadways bus was going to Ajmer from Jaipur. When the tyre burst, the bus lost control, jumped the divider and collided with the car.

Those killed have been identified as Dinesh Kumar Regar, his brother Suresh Regar, Bablu Mewada, Kishan Lal, Ravikant, his brother Babu, Narayan Lal and Pramod Suthar, all residents of Bhilwara district. They were going to Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj to attend Maha Kumbh.

Two persons were killed and three others sustained serious injuries when a car carrying pilgrims from the Maha Kumbh rammed into a parked bus on the Veer Bhanpur Highway here on Thursday, police said. Rajatalab police station in-charge, Ajit Kumar Verma, said that Devendra Pratap Singh, a resident of Bachhwara in Begusarai, Bihar, was travelling with his family and relatives from Prayagraj to Varanasi for religious rituals after taking a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh when the accident occurred.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday flagged off a special train from Karmali railway station near Panaji to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for devotees to travel free of cost to attend the Maha Kumbh. The Goa government has announced three special trains from the coastal state to Prayagraj for the devotees.

Sawant flagged off the first train at Karmali, as it left carrying nearly 1,000 devotees from different parts of Goa for the 34-hour-long journey to Prayagraj.

"Blessed to be in Prayagraj for the auspicious Maha Kumbh Mela, a divine gathering that comes once in 144 years.

"Tomorrow, at the holy Triveni Sangam, along with my esteemed cabinet colleagues and Hon'ble MLAs, I will be taking the sacred dip and praying for peace, harmony, and prosperity for the people of Manipur and the entire nation. May this holy occasion bring blessings to all," Manipur CM N Biren Singh posted on X early on Thursday.

The opening night will feature Odissi dance by Dona Ganguly, Sufi singing by Yogesh Gandharv & Abha Gandharv, classical music by Suma Sudhindra, and Rasleela by Dr. Devkinandan Sharma.

All cultural programs will be paused from February 11 to 13 due to the Magh Purnima Snan on Feb 12.

Performances include Odissi dancer Dona Ganguly (Feb 7), playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy (Feb 8), classical dancer Sonal Mansingh and singer Suresh Wadkar (Feb 9), and singer Hariharan (Feb 10).

The culture department has completed preparations for a four-day celebration featuring renowned artists.

After the third Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami, the grand cultural festival will continue from Thursday.

Laurene Powell Jobs' departure from Prayagraj marked a historic moment in the city’s aviation history. Arriving on a Bhutan Airways aircraft and departing back to Bhutan after attending the Maha Kumbh Mela, this event was a significant milestone for Prayagraj’s airport, as it hosted its first international flight in 93 years.

With barely six days left for Maghi Purnima snan – the second last main bathing snan at the ongoing Maha Kumbh, to be held on February 12, that would not only mark the end of the kalpwas period but lakhs of kalpwasis would also start their return journey to their respective destinations. The tithi for Magh Purnima will start at 6.55pm on Feb 11 and would be ending on Feb 12 on 7.22pm.

Cultural programmes at the Maha Kumbh will begin on February 7, celebrating India’s artistic heritage over four days at the Ganga Pandal. Odissi dancer Dona Ganguly, Sufi singers Yogesh and Abha Gandharv, and Karnataka’s Suma Sudhindra will perform on the first day. February 8 will feature singer Kavita Krishnamurthy with violinist Dr L Subramaniam, along with Manipuri dancer Preeti Patel and sarod player Narendra Nath. Suresh Wadkar, Sonal Mansingh, and Madhup Mudgal will perform on February 9, followed by Hariharan, Shubhda Varadkar, and Sudha on February 10. Cultural events will pause from February 11 to 13 due to Magh Purnima Snan on February 12.

Hitting back at comments regarding his plans to visit the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said that no one has the right to question his personal beliefs and devotion.

Shivakumar was responding to remarks by Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, who commented on reports about his plans to visit the Kumbh Mela while attempting to link it to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's recent statement.

Kharge had questioned whether poverty could be eradicated by taking a dip in the Ganga, alleging that BJP leaders were competing to take dips for the cameras.

"He (Ashoka), the Opposition Leader, thinks he will gain respect in his party by making comments against me. Let anyone say whatever they want-it is a matter of our dharma and karma, our practices, traditions, and beliefs," Shivakumar said.