By Admin 
Magh Mela 2026 has started in Sangam city Prayagraj from today i.e. from 3rd January 2026. On the first bathing festival of Paush Purnima, people gathered on the banks of Sangam. Devotees are taking the dip of faith in the harsh cold, till now lakhs of people have taken the dip of faith since Brahma Muhurta. The fair administration estimates that today more than 25 to 30 lakh devotees will take a dip of faith in the Sangam. CM Yogi Adityanath has wished everyone a very happy Magh Mela.
Actually, Purnima Tithi has started from 4 am in the morning, a rare auspicious coincidence is taking place in Magh Mela after 75 years. From today, devotees will start Kalpvas by taking the pledge of Kalpvas, 20 to 25 lakh Kalpvasis stay in Magh Mela for one month. The Kalpavasis undergo rigorous penance and meditation for a whole month.
Along with this, a large number of devotees also arrive on major bathing festivals, during the entire Magh Mela, 12 to 15 crore devotees will take bath in one and a half month. The Irrigation Department will ensure availability of 10 thousand cusecs of water in Magh Mela. In Magh Mela, 160 km of checkered plate has been laid by the Public Works Department, 242 km of drinking water line has been laid by the UP Jal Nigam. 85 km sewer line has been laid.
Health centers and hospitals built for devotees
25 temporary power substations have been built by UP Power Corporation. For quick treatment of devotees, two hospitals of 20 beds each have been built. 12 primary health centers and two health centers have been set up, one vector control unit, five Ayurvedic and five homeopathic hospitals have also been opened in the fair. Arrangements for 50 ambulances have been made in the fair.
Parking system at 42 places
Apart from this, 25 thousand toilets, 8 thousand dustbins, more than 10 lakh liner bags, 30 suction vehicles have been installed in Magh Mela, three thousand cleaning workers have been deployed. The scope of the fair has been expanded, the fair has been organized in 7 sectors in 800 hectares, parking arrangements have been made at 42 places for the devotees coming from different directions.
Use of AI technology for surveillance
At the same time, 17 police stations, 42 posts, 20 fire tenders, seven fire posts, 20 fire watch towers, one water police station, one water police control room have been established in the fair area, 8 km deep water barricading has also been made. Crowd management, crowd density analysis and incident reporting is being done through CCTV cameras and 400 cameras equipped with AI. Besides, 3800 Transport Corporation buses have been deployed in the Magh Mela. The fair will conclude with Makar Sankranti on 15th January, Mauni Amavasya on 18th, Basant Panchami on 30th January, Maghi Purnima on 1st February and bathing festival with Mahashivratri on 15th February.
CM Yogi wished Magh Mela
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has congratulated everyone including the people of the country and the state on the occasion of Magh Mela. CM Yogi wrote, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the devotees and people of the state on the inauguration of Shri Gangadevya Namah Magh Mela and the holy Paush Purnima. Hearty welcome and greetings to all the revered sages, saints, religious leaders, all the Akharas and Kalpvasis who have come to Tirtharaj Prayag to take a dip of faith in the holy Sangam. May the wishes of Mother Ganga, Mother Yamuna and Mother Saraswati be fulfilled.” Do it, this is the prayer.”
What did the Divisional Commissioner say?
Regarding the arrangements for the Magh Mela, Divisional Commissioner Soumya Agarwal said, “All the devotees present here were talked to. Everyone is finding the arrangements smooth and good and all the people are taking bath here as per their convenience. The facilities have been made available to us in the same manner as we wanted…”
Input By : Saurabh Mishra