Faith drew massive crowds to Prayagraj on Makar Sankranti as more than 10.3 million devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam for the sacred bath.

The ritual marked the second major bathing day of Magh Mela 2026 and once again highlighted Prayagraj’s importance in India’s religious calendar. From the first light of dawn, the riverside turned into a vast crowd of pilgrims united by belief and tradition.

The heavy rush began even before Makar Sankranti. On Ekadashi, nearly 8.5 million pilgrims entered the mela area to take part in the holy bath. This steady inflow set the stage for the huge numbers seen the next day.

Despite the large crowd, the bathing rituals were completed smoothly and peacefully.

Makar Sankranti is an important festival in the Hindu tradition. It marks the sun’s movement into the zodiac sign of Capricorn. Many people believe that taking a dip at the Sangam on this day washes away sins and brings spiritual peace.

During the Magh Mela, the Sankranti bath is seen as especially sacred. Devotees travel from different parts of India and even from abroad to be part of the ritual. From early morning, pilgrims stood in long lines at the ghats, praying as they waited for their turn.

To manage the huge crowd, the Uttar Pradesh administration put strong security and crowd-control measures in place. Senior police and civil officers stayed in the mela area throughout the day to oversee safety, traffic movement, and crowd flow.

Officials present on the ground included Additional Director General of Police Jyoti Narayan, Inspector General Ajay Mishra, Divisional Commissioner Saumya Agrawal, Prayagraj Police Commissioner Jogendra Kumar, Additional Police Commissioner Dr Ajaypal Sharma, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, Mela Officer Rishiraj, and Mela Superintendent of Police Neeraj Pandey. Field teams were given regular instructions to ensure the event passed without any trouble.

Special transport arrangements also helped pilgrims move more easily. The Rapido bike service, introduced to assist people in crowded areas, was widely used on Makar Sankranti.

More than 11,500 devotees used the service in a single day. Since the start of the Magh Mela, over 138,500 pilgrims have been transported through this facility.

Along with security and transport, officials also focused on the cultural side of the festival. Senior officers distributed traditional khichdi prasad at different locations in the mela area.

The gesture was warmly welcomed by pilgrims and added to the festive and spiritual atmosphere surrounding the holy dip at the Sangam.