Maha Kumbh 2025 Live Updates: 1.60 crore devotees take holy dip in Sangam on 1st Amrit Snan

Maha Kumbh Live: Air India to operate daily Delhi-Prayagraj flights for Maha Kumbh

Air India will temporarily operate daily flights between the national capital and Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh to cater to the high travel demand. In a release on Tuesday, the airline said it will operate the flights on the route from January 25 to February 28.

"With convenient daytime departures in both directions, the flights enable seamless connections via Delhi to customers travelling to/from various parts of India as well as North America, Europe, Australia, and several countries in Southeast Asia," the release said.

Air India and Air India Express do not have regular services connecting Prayagraj.

Last month, SpiceJet announced that it would operate daily special flights connecting Prayagraj with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad for the Maha Kumbh Mela. These services will be available from January 12 to February 28.

IndiGo and Akasa Air also operate flights to Prayagraj from different cities.

Maha Kumbh Live: International devotees share their experience at the Kumbh

Maha Kumbh Live: Bus carrying pilgrims to Prayagraj Maha Kumbh catches fire in UP, 1 killed

An elderly passenger was killed when a private bus carrying pilgrims from Telangana to the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh caught fire on Tuesday, police said. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, which created chaos at the tourist facility in Vrindavan where the bus was parked, they said.

According to Additional SP City Arvind Kumar, the bus had around 50 pilgrims and arrived at the Vrindavan Tourist Centre on Tuesday evening.

The group was en route to Prayagraj for a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh later in the night. While some pilgrims ventured out to visit temples, others stayed back to prepare food.

Amid this, sparks emerged from the bus, quickly escalating into a massive fire. Police and fire services were alerted immediately.

One of the pilgrims raised an alarm and pointed out that an elderly man, identified as Dhrupati, was still inside the bus. However, by the time fire teams arrived, the blaze had engulfed the vehicle, and Dhrupati was found dead.

A fellow passenger who had been sitting near Dhrupati alleged that the deceased was smoking a beedi and chose to remain in the bus while others stepped out to visit temples.

Maha Kumbh Live: 24X7 War Room set up at Rail Bhavan to monitor trains, amenities

A 24X7 War Room has been set up by the Railway Ministry in the Rail Bhavan here that provides a live feed of train movements and passenger services with cameras installed at nine stations and its adjoining areas of Prayagraj, an official said on Tuesday. The Ministry has made elaborate arrangements for crores of devotees arriving from all across the country.

It has deputed more than two dozen railway officials and experts from various fields such as commercial, technical, safety etc in the War Room in various shifts to monitor live feed on the screens around the clock and advise the concerned staff on the ground to take the corrective measures if required.

These nine stations where devotees are arriving from various parts of the country are Prayagraj, Naini, Prayagraj Chheoki, Subedarganj, Prayagraj Sangam, Prayag Junction, Phaphamau Junction, Prayagraj Rambagh Station, and Jhunsi Station.

Maha Kumbh Live: Claims of grand arrangements at Maha Kumbh far from reality, says Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the government's claims of grand arrangements at the Maha Kumbh are "far from reality". The SP leader said, "Pilgrims are struggling for basic amenities like drinking water, food, and shelter. There is no one to hear their grievances. Senior citizens are forced to walk kilometres, and there are no measures for protection against the cold."

"Instead of supporting poor boatmen, the government has restricted their livelihoods," the former chief minister added.

Accusing the BJP government in the state and Centre of rampant corruption and failed governance, Yadav said every scheme launched by it has become a story of bribery.

He also alleged that inflation, unemployment and corruption, have meanwhile, reached unprecedented levels.

"Their flawed economic policies have ruined the economy. They promised dreams but delivered despair," Yadav said.

Maha Kumbh Live: Yogi Adityanath congratulates devotees

Maha Kumbh Live: UP CM congratulates devotees on taking first Amrit Snan in Maha Kumbh

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday congratulated over 3.5 crore saints, Kalpvasis and devotees on taking a holy dip in Sangam at Maha Kumbh on the auspicious occasion of the Makar Sankranti. On the Amrit Snan festival on Tuesday, more than 3.50 crore revered saints or devotees took a holy dip in the pure Triveni, he said.

In a post on X, he said, "Hearty congratulations to all the revered saints, Kalpvasis and devotees who took a holy dip of faith in the holy Sangam on the auspicious occasion of the holy 'Makar Sankranti' in the grand gathering of faith, equality and unity 'Maha Kumbh-2025, Prayagraj."

Maha Kumbh Live: 3.50 crore devotees take holy dip

3.50 crore devotees take holy dip in sangam on Tuesday on the occasion of makar Sankranti

Maha Kumbh Live: FIR against Ballia youth for spreading false information about Maha Kumbh

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. Referring to the FIR, the police said a complaint had been made by Avkush Kumar Singh on the social networking platform X on Monday.

Singh reported that the accused, linked to the Samajwadi Party, had posted false information on Facebook. The post alleged that "11 devotees have died of heart attack due to cold at the Maha Kumbh bathing event and the ICU emergency camps are overcrowded with patients".

Maha Kumbh Live: "I am extremely happy...," says Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya

Maha Kumbh Live: Flowers showered from helicopters on devotees at Maha Kumbh

Devotees at the Maha Kumbh were greeted with a shower of rose petals during their 'Amrit Snan' on Makar Sankranti, covering the ghats and akharas at the Sangam bank in a vibrant floral display. As the petals cascaded down, the devotees responded with fervent chants of "Jai Shri Ram" and "Har Har Mahadev."

In a statement, the Uttar Pradesh government revealed that the Horticulture Department, under the directives of the Yogi Adityanath administration, had meticulously planned the flower showers for weeks. Special arrangements were made to source and store rose petals, ensuring an uninterrupted floral tribute during the sacred bathing festivals.

"Preparations have been made for flower showers on all major 'snan parv' (bathing rituals) of Maha Kumbh, with plans to use around 20 quintals of rose petals for each occasion," the statement added.

The initiative began on Monday, during the first bathing festival, 'Paush Purnima Snan,' when rose petals were also showered on devotees. To meet the demand for the first two days, the Horticulture Department arranged over 40 quintals of rose petals, ensuring the success of the floral spectacle.

Maha Kumbh Live: "Peace, knowledge, spirituality, and culture here," says Spiritual orator Jaya Kishori

Spiritual orator Jaya Kishori who reached Prayagraj on the occasion of Mahakumbh urged people to visit the Kumbh Nagari, saying that the energy which gets created during such an amalgamation of crowds can't be witnessed during normal days.

Kishori further said that anyone who comes here will find everything here- peace, knowledge, spirituality, and culture.

Kishori who was taking in a boat ride at Triveni Sangam while accompanying Swami Chidanand Saraswati, the spiritual head of the Rishikesh-based Parmarth Niketan Ashram and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati.

Speakign to ANI 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. My experience has been very good... Seeing such a large number of devotees in one place creates a unique energy, which is not there on normal days...

"Anyone who comes here will find everything here- peace, knowledge, spirituality, and culture. Prayagraj is currently seeing an amalgamation of all these...," she added.

Maha Kumbh Live: Laurene Powell Jobs faces health issues at Maha Kumbh, recovering after 'Ganga snan'

Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, was momentarily unwell due to the overwhelming crowds at the Maha Kumbh but is now recovering after taking a 'Ganga snan' (holy dip) and resting.

The billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist was given the name 'Kamla' by her guru, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri of the Niranjani Akhara.

"Laurene was briefly unwell on Monday but is feeling better after 'Ganga Snan' and rest. Her enthusiasm to delve deeper into Sanatan Dharma remains strong," the statement quoted Swami Kailashanand.

In an interview with PTI Videos, Swami Kailashanand explained that Laurene's health issues were triggered by the large crowds at the event.

Maha Kumbh Live: 'On the occassion of Makar Sankranti when all of us took a holy dip at the Sangam, the feeling was surreal. The management of the entire event has been extremely good'

Watch: Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya at Triveni Sangam for Amrit Snan

Maha Kumbh Live: Flower petals showered on devotees taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam

Maha Kumbh Live: The first Amrit Snan of the Maha Kumbh on Makar Sankranti showcased the Naga sadhus' captivating display of spiritual fervor and martial artistry, mesmerizing pilgrims at the Triveni Sangam.

Maha Kumbh 2025: Tent city transforms into hub of faith and divinity on Makar Sankranti

On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, the banks of the Triveni Sangam in tent city have transformed into a vibrant tapestry of faith and divinity. Devotees from across the country gathered at the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati, taking holy dip to seek blessings and purification. Read more

Maha Kumbh Live: 'Yaksha, Gandharva, and kinnars, all took a holy dip today, praying for the well-being of Bharat'

Maha Kumbh Live: One of the 200 electric buses is being charged at the makeshift charging point set up at all the parking stations across the city.

Maha Kumbh Live: By 10am today, 1.38 crore devotees had taken the holy dip at the Maha Kumbh

Maha Kumbh Live: 'Our officers and jawans are on duty, everything is under control. We are continuously monitoring the situation and all our senior officers are also in the Control Rooms'

Our officers and jawans are on duty, everything is under control. We are continuously monitoring the situation and all our senior officers are also in the Control Rooms. Amrit Snan is going on in a peaceful manner. Devotees are peacefully taking a holy dip at several places in the state on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. There are separate ghats for Akharas and separate ghats for the devotees where they are taking holy dips. We are using CCTVs, drones and underwater drones this time: Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar

Maha Kumbh Live: The Bade Hanumanji temple was closed on Makar Sankranti due to the rapidly swelling crowd at Sangam

Maha Kumbh 2025: The Juna Akhara procession has entered Akhara Marg at Triveni Sangam

Maha Kumbh Live: Bhandaras ensure that nobody remains hungry during the Maha Kumbh

Maha Kumbh 2025: All akharas are being allotted 40 minutes each to take the holy dip

Maha Kumbh 2025: The first Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh commenced on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti as sadhus from the Mahanirvani Panchayati Akhada took a holy dip at Triveni Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mystical Saraswati rivers. Sadhus from all 13 akhadas of Sanatan Dharma will participate in the ritual, taking turns for their holy dip at the Triveni Sangam.

Maha Kumbh Live 2025: 'Maha Kumbh is the perfect opportunity to share the Sanatan Dharma knowledge'

Maha Kumbh 2025: Sadhus of the Mahanirvani Panchayati Akhada take a holy dip at Triveni Sangam as the first Amrit Snan of the Maha Kumbh commences on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti

Maha Kumbh 2025 Live Updates: Mahamandleshwars of different akharas are leading the processions for the first Amrit Snan on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Maha Kumbh 2025: A devotee from Belgium, Aurora says, "It's very peaceful. We can really feel the vibes of Kumbh Mela. I am really happy to be there. I can feel the energy."

Maha Kumbh 2025: Sadhus of the 13 akharas will take holy dip at Triveni Sangam.

Maha Kumbh 2025 Live Updates: Procession of Niranjani Akhada begins for the first Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh 2025 on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Mahakumbh 2025 expected to boost trade by Rs 2 lakh crore: Confederation of All India Traders

The Mahakumbh 2025, which began today in Prayagraj, is projected to generate trade worth approximately Rs 2 lakh crore in the region, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

The month-long event, considered the world's largest human gathering, is anticipated to attract around 400 million visitors, providing a significant boost to local trade, tourism, and employment.

The trade body noted that accommodation and tourism are expected to be the biggest contributors to this economic surge, with local hotels, guesthouses, and temporary lodging arrangements likely to generate Rs 40,000 crore.

"Mahakumbh will witness large-scale economic and trade activities. An estimate suggests that with an average expenditure of Rs 5,000 per person during religious travel, the total spending will exceed Rs 2 lakh crore. This includes spending on hotels, guesthouses, temporary accommodations, food, religious items, healthcare, and other services" said Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of CAIT.

Maha Kumbh: Record number of devotees expected to take part in 'Amrit Snan' on Makar Sankranti

record number of devotees are expected to take part in the first 'Amrit Snan' of the Maha Kumbh Mela on Tuesday on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The first Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh is special in many ways. It takes place a day after the first major 'snan' which took place on Monday in the Sangam area on the occasion of Paush Poornima. The first Amrit Snan holds significance because the 'Akharas' will be participating in it.
Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) president Mahant Ravindra Puri told PTI that the first Amrit Snan of this Maha Kumbh will begin at 5.30 am on Tuesday.

First 'snaan' at Maha Kumbh held in grand manner: Keshav Prasad Maurya

Uttar Pradesh deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday said that the first 'snaan' of Maha Kumbh was held with safety and cleanliness and noted that other 'snaans' will be held in the same grand manner.

"I extend my greetings to all those who will be coming to Prayagraj for Kumbh Mela. Maha Kumbh appears to be true to its name. The coming 'snaans' will also be conducted in the same grand manner," Maurya said.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath earlier in the day greeted people assembled at Maon the auspicious 'Paush Purnima' at Sangam on the first day of Maha Kumbh and said over 15 million devotees took the holy dip.

Family reunions at Maha Kumbh: Lost in old filmy style, found digital way

Separated from their families in the dense crowd of the Maha Kumbh as depicted in Bollywood films of the yore, over 250 individuals were reunited with their kin on the first day thanks to 'digital initiatives' bolstered by the traditional policing measures. The inaugural day of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj was marked by the Paush Purnima bathing festival, during which over 1.5 crore devotees converged at the sacred Triveni Sangam for a holy dip. The event will conclude on February 26.

IMD launches special webpage for Maha Kumbh

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has developed a dedicated webpage to provide weather updates for the Maha Kumbh, the world's largest religious gathering. The Maha Kumbh began on Monday with tens of lakhs of people taking a dip in the Triveni Sangam -- the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. It will continue until February 26.

The special webpage for the Maha Kumbh provides information on temperature, wind chill, wind speed and direction, humidity and air quality.

It also offers hourly, three-hourly and weekly forecasts for Prayagraj and neighbouring cities, including Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi.

The IMD has predicted generally cloudy skies in Prayagraj and nearby regions over the next two to three days along with continuing foggy conditions.

Thousands of devotees begin 'Kalpvas' on first day of Maha Kumbh Mela

The tradition of 'Kalpvas' began on Monday with the start of Maha Kumbh celebrations on Paush Purnima as devotees took a holy dip at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati. Following rituals, thousands of devotees have started their Kalpvas by planting bananas, Tulsi and barley. They are also observing fast and adopting a disciplined lifestyle.

Performing Kalpvas in the holy city of Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh is considered auspicious. Over 10 lakh devotees are estimated to observe Kalpvas this year, dedicating the entire month of Magh to spiritual practices.

Tirth Purohit Shyam Sundar Pandey, explaining its significance, said, "Kalpvas means living by the Sangam for a fixed time, typically from Paush Purnima to Magh Purnima. Some devotees also perform shorter durations of three, five or eleven days, depending on their capacity."

Completing 12 years of Kalpvas during Mahakumbh is considered highly rewarding and liberating in scriptures, he said.

According to the Sanatan tradition, Kalpvas is a spiritual gateway, transitioning an individual from the 'Vanaprastha' to 'Sanyas' ashram. It serves as a profound practice for inner and outer rejuvenation.

Reliance Consumer Products partners with Maha Kumbh 2025 to serve pilgrims with 'seva' and care

Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) is participating in Maha Kumbh Prayagraj 2025, one of the world's largest spiritual gatherings, and will play "an integral role" in enhancing the experience of millions of pilgrims through a series of initiatives aligned with the ethos of "seva", a release said.

It said RCPL is proud to contribute to this sacred event, hailed as the "Mahayagya of Unity", reflecting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote national harmony and spiritual well-being.

The release said this initiative embodies RCPL's dedication to fostering deeper connections with the people of India and supporting cultural heritage.

From AI cams to drones, Kumbh mela site a fortress with 7-ring security

As four crore devotees are expected to take a holy dip on Jan 13-14 to mark the beginning of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, the entire mela area has turned into a fortress with the implementation of a seven-ring security plan for the safety of pilgrims.

According to the estimates of the Mela authorities, at least 1 crore devotees are likely to flock to the Mela area on Paush Purnima (Jan 13) and three crore people will take holy dip on Makar Sankranti (Jan 14).

The police on Sunday declared the entire Mela area a ‘no vehicle zone' and implemented a traffic diversion plan on all the seven routes leading to Sangam. Read more

Bihar governor to spend three days at Maha Kumbh 2025

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday said he will be visiting Prayagraj to attend the Maha Kumbh 2025 and spend three days at the mega congregation. Extending Makar Sankranti greetings to the "people of Bihar, the whole country and beyond", Khan also disclosed he has organised a feast of 'dahi chuda' (curd and flattened rice) at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.

"I have been invited there by three religious leaders whom I revere. I will be spending three days at the congregation," the governor told reporters on the sidelines of a function organised by Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha.

Maha Kumbh 2025 Live Updates: Over 1.60 crore devotees take holy dip on paush purnima by 4 pm in Sangam area on the first ‘Amrit snan’ day & start of Mahakumbh 2025

Maha Kumbh 2025 Live Updates: NSG commandos patrol to ensure the safety and security of devotees as Maha Kumbh 2025 begins on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima, today.

Maha Kumbh 2025: Triveni of pride, faith & tech for Gen Alpha

It's not just elderly and middle aged who are coming to Kumbh. The biggest religious congregation is drawing the Gen Alpha too, with hundreds of them reaching the Sangam from across India and abroad to experience their tryst with faith and spirituality. The excitement was visible on the faces of the majority of young brigade who were born just before or after the 2013 Kumbh Mela. Read more

Maha Kumbh 2025 Live Updates: Akhara chief demands ancient temples 'converted' into mosques be vacated

Raking up the temple-mosque controversy, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad Mahant Ravindra Puri on Monday demanded that ancient temples "converted" into mosques across the country should be vacated. The president of the 'akhara', which is an apex religious body of 13 monastic Hindu orders, also said that there is no bar on Muslims visiting Maha Kumbh. "When I went for a tour across India for 'dharma prachar' (propagation of religion), the dome of most of the mosques resembled that of a temple, and you will find symbols of 'Sanatan' inside them (mosques). Around 80 per cent of mosques are on temples all over India," Puri, who is also the president of the Mansa Devi Temple Trust in Haridwar, said.

Maha Kumbh 2025 Live Updates: 7 special trains from Odisha to ferry devotees

In preparation for the Maha Kumbh 2025, the Indian Railways has rolled out an extensive plan to facilitate the movement of millions of devotees to Prayagraj. According to East Coast Railway CPRO Ashok Kumar, over 13,000 trains will operate during the event, including 10,000 regular mail express trains and 3,000 additional special services specifically planned for January and February. Among these, Seven special trains have been announced to ensure seamless connectivity for devotees from Odisha.