Today, the Sangam at the point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the legendary Saraswati was filled with humanity as the Magh Mela 2026 kicked into a very fast phase. A spectacle of thousands of pilgrims dipping in the freezing waters during the Ekadashi holy dip, via drone images, the administration is now in “top gear” for one of the nation’s second major bathing ceremonies, the Makar Sankranti, on Thursday, January 15.
Record Traffic & Ready-made Preparations
In the wake of the mega-fun Paush Purnima snan, which attracted more than 31 lakh devotees on January 3, the Mela government has greatly expanded its infrastructure. The Makar Sankranti turnout of 28.95 lakh at Magh Mela 2024 contrasts with an expected 1 crore at the same time this year. Because of this enormous flow of people and the number in need of care the following needs to be addressed:
- Ghat Extension: Bathing ghats have been widened to a length of 12,100 feet, including changing rooms and additional pathways.
- Smart Parking: A network of 42 temporary parking sites has been set up, holding well over one lakh vehicles.
- Accessibility: Bike-taxis and golf carts are running 24/7 across the Mela zone for seniors and differently-abled.
#WATCH | Prayagraj, UP: People gather in large numbers to take a holy dip at the Sangam on the occasion of Ekadashi during the ongoing Magh Mela.
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2026
High-security arrangements have been made by the administration, with police monitoring the area. pic.twitter.com/j6AOAa9LRC
Water Purity and Sanitation
Protecting the sanctity of the river is a top priority. Water is discharged 8,000 cusecs per day from the Ganga Barrage in Kanpur to maintain adequate water levels. In addition, all 81 drains flowing into the rivers have been tapped to avoid pollution. The sanitation drive is equally strong, employing around 3,300 workers and having around 25,000+ toilets ready to create a zero-discharge open defecation free (ODF) area.
#WATCH | Prayagraj, UP | People gather in large numbers to take a holy dip at the Sangam, during the ongoing Magh Mela. pic.twitter.com/qEAxGmQg1e
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2026
High-Tech Security Blanket
Superintendent of Police (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey confirmed a multi-layer security grid. The area is divided into 17 police station zones and 42 outposts, backed up by:
AI Surveillance
More than 400 CCTV cameras (including the AI-enabled systems used to analyze crowd density and incidents).
Specialist Teams: UP ATS, NDRF, SDRF, water police for patrolling period.
Barricaded areas
A total of 10 km of barricaded area (deep-water and river-line) has been deployed for one-way crowd movement and to prevent accidental incidents.
"Har Har Gange" reverberates into the atmosphere as the sunset stretches towards Ekadashi, heralding the beginning of a time-honored Makar Sankranti.
