Mahakumbh 2025: Holy dip taken by 3.5 crore devotees on Makar Sankranti, says Yogi Adityanath

Millions of devotees thronged the Mahakumbh Mela on the first Amrit Snan day which coincided with Makar Sankranti, with more than 3.5 crore people, including saints and seers, taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam.

School from class 1st to class 8th will remain closed tomorrow in Prayagraj because of the traffic congestion after the first 'Shahi Snan' of Maha Kumbh on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Basic Education Officer, on the orders of the District Magistrate, issued a public notice ordering the closure of all English and Hindi medium schools till class 8th on January 15.

Highlighting the significance of this year's Maha Kumbh, former MP and the BJP leader Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on Tuesday termed it a "once in 144 years celebration" and said that it is extremely fortunate to be able to be part of this grand event.

Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a dip in the Ganga river in Haridwar on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Tuesday.

"Taking Maa Ganga's blessing on Makar Sankranti festival," he said in a post on social media platform X and attached with it pictures of him taking a dip in the river.

CM Yogi described Mahakumbh as a symbol of the immense power and faith of Sanatan Dharma. He wrote, "On the first Amrit Snan day, more than 3.5 crore revered saints and devotees earned the merit of bathing in the eternal and pure Triveni Sangam."

'Amrit Snan' in Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 concluded with spiritual celebration as over 35 million devotees performed the sacred Snan at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, ANI reported.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: Former Solapur mayor and NCP (SP) leader Mahesh Kothe died after he suffered a heart attack while taking a holy dip at the triveni confluence in Prayagraj on Tuesday, his aide said.

The incident occurred around 7:30 AM at the Triveni Sangam, a confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the legendary Saraswati River.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: “Heartiest greetings to all revered saints, Kalpvasis and devotees who took a holy dip of faith in the holy confluence on the auspicious occasion of holy 'Makar Sankranti' at the grand confluence of faith, equality and unity 'Mahakumbh-2025, Prayagraj'! Today, on the first Amrit Snan festival, more than 3.50 crore revered saints/devotees earned the holy benefit of bathing in the uninterrupted-clean Triveni,” UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on X.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: Air India announces it will operate daily flights between Delhi and Prayagraj to meet high travel demand. The service will be in operation from January 25 to February 28.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: A case has been registered against a youth for allegedly spreading false information on social media about the death of 11 devotees during a Maha Kumbh ritual in Prayagraj, police officials said on Tuesday.

According to police, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at Pakdi police station on the complaint of Station House Officer (SHO) Rajendra Prasad Singh. The accused, identified as Lalu Yadav Sanjeev, was booked under Section 353(2) of the BNS.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: Rose petals were showered on devotees during their 'Amrit Snan' at the Maha Kumbh on Makar Sankranti, draping the ghats and akharas at the Sangam bank with flowers.

As the rose petals rained down on the devotees, they responded with chants of "Jai Shri Ram" and "Har Har Mahadev."

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi and the arrangements of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the 2019 Kumbh was very good, with more than 25 crore people visiting. About 1.5 crore people came to the Maha Kumbh yesterday and 2 crore people have come today so far. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is monitoring the Maha Kumbh every hour. We believe that this time more than 50 crore people will come to the Maha Kumbh,” says Awanish Kumar Awasthi.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: On Makar Sankranti, millions of pilgrims flocked to the Triveni Sangam to take a sacred bath during the first 'Amrit Snan' of the Mahakumbh 2025 on Tuesday. Sadhus from 13 akharas took the holy plunge in the Sangam first at this revered occasion, followed by the general public. The Amrit Snan, where Naga Sadhus are given the first chance to bathe, is regarded as the Maha Kumbh Mela's primary attraction. Read more

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: “Anyone who comes here will find everything here- peace, knowledge, spirituality, and culture. Prayagraj is currently seeing an amalgamation of all these,” spiritual orator Jaya Kishori said.

"The emotions of all those who have come here are magnificent. Such a large number of people who have come here despite such cold weather is amazing," she added.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: According to UP principal secretary (home), so far about 20 million (2 crore) people have taken a dip in the Sangam on Makar Sankranti, which is the second day of the Mahakumbh 2025.

"By evening, more than 2.50 crore people will have taken a dip," he added.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: The good vs evil battle, salvation and a larger narrative surrounds the significance of the Mahakumbh Mela. From ‘Samudra Manthan’ to the institution of ‘Akharas’ by an eighth-century Hindu philosopher to the 2025 Mahakumbh Mela, let's take a closer look at this auspicious gathering. Read more

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: “I have been attending the Kumbh Mela since 1982... This time the experience is very different. A new city has been set up... We are extremely fortunate to be able to be part of this once in 144 years celebration,” says BJP leader Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: Steve Jobs' wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, reportedly developed allergies on her second day at the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj but will participate in the ritual of taking a dip in the Ganga river.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar said that instructions were given to use all the modern technologies and AI tools for crowd and traffic management, underwater monitoring or our latest fire fighting equipment.

“All our department officials are staying on the spot; along with that, the state officials are here in our control room,” said Kumar.

Kinnar Akhara's Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi expressed happiness over their participation in the Amrit Snan and wished everyone a 'happy Makar Sankranti', ANI reported.

The Uttar Pradesh government's information department said that the first day of the 2025 Mahakumbh Mela gave the message of "unity and 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (word is one family)" as people from across the world and the nation participated in the Amrit Snan.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, a devotee from Japan, said, "I did samadhi four times. Today, I have come here to take a holy dip in Ganga water. I bless everyone. Maha Kumbh is a chance for everyone to purify and energise... word of love and peace to spread out."

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: “We took a bath in Triveni today. Lakhs of devotees have come here to take the holy dip in Ganga. It’s the history of Indian culture… It’s because of you - the media that today everyone is able to witness ‘Sanatan’,” says Niranjan Peethadheeshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri Maharaj.

Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live: “I am Greek. I am happy to be here. All thanks to my (Indian) husband. I am into yoga for last 20 years but now I have got the opportunity to know about Maha Kumbh. This experience is very unique and I feel grateful. It’s a good opportunity to get ‘Moksh’,” says Pinelopi Khanna, a Greek national, as she participates in ‘Amrit Snan’,” said a devotee.