Tue Jan 14 12:02:37 UTC 2025: ## Millions Take the Holy Dip as Mahakumbh 2025 Begins
**Prayagraj, India** – The Mahakumbh Mela 2025 is underway, with millions of pilgrims flocking to Prayagraj for the auspicious bathing rituals. The festival officially commenced with the Makar Sankranti “Amrit Snan” (sacred bath), witnessing an estimated 25 million devotees taking a dip in the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. The sheer number of attendees led to some pressure on crowd control measures, with reports of barricades giving way under the immense pressure. Police were deployed to manage the massive crowds, while Naga Sadhus, mounted on elephants and horses and carrying tridents and spears, added to the spectacle with their chants of “Har Har Mahadev.” The event also saw the establishment of a large camp by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Akshardham organization. Authorities implemented extensive crowd management plans to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
First Piper 