Magh Mela: 3.5 crore devotees are expected to bathe on Basant Panchami, administration has made tight arrangements:Magh Mela officer Rishiraj says that after Mauni Amavasya, the administration estimates that the maximum number of devotees will take a holy dip in the Sangam on Basant Panchami.

News Topical, Digital Desk : A large number of devotees are arriving to take a holy dip on Basant Panchami, the fourth bathing festival of the Magh Mela, held on the banks of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati. With Basant Panchami and Achala Saptami falling close together, the administration has implemented crowd management and route diversions to anticipate the increasing number of devotees at the confluence. An estimated 35 million devotees are expected to bathe during Basant Panchami, Achala Saptami, and the weekend

Regarding Basant Panchami, the fourth bathing festival of the Magh Mela being held on the banks of the Sangam, astrologers say that the Panchami Tithi will begin at 2:28 a.m. on Thursday and will continue until 1:56 a.m. on January 23rd. During this auspicious time, devotees can take a dip in the Triveni and donate yellow food grains, yellow clothes, etc. On January 25th, there is the festival of Achala Saptami, also known as Putra Saptami or Bhanu Saptami. There is a tradition of Anna Bhandara on this day. Due to the weekend on January 24th, the Magh Mela area will be crowded on all three days.

Magh Mela officer Rishiraj says that after Mauni Amavasya, the administration anticipates the largest number of devotees to take a holy dip in the confluence on Basant Panchami. From Basant Panchami to Achala Saptami, more than 35 million devotees are expected to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Triveni. Twenty-four ghats, spanning a length of 3.5 km, are ready in the fair area. All basic arrangements, including cleaning the ghats and ensuring clean water in the rivers, have been completed.

As the number of devotees increases, special arrangements have been made on the pontoon bridges to facilitate their circulation. Devotees can use pontoon bridges number 3, 5, and 7 to travel from Parade to Jhusi. Pontoon bridges number 4 and 6 will be used to return from Jhusi to Parade. Heavy police forces will be deployed on pontoon bridges number 1 and 2, which have been constructed for emergencies.

In view of the large crowds expected on Basant Panchami, the fair police have issued a traffic plan to ensure smooth and safe travel for devotees and bathers. Fair Police Superintendent Neeraj Pandey says that crowd control, traffic management, ghat security, and evacuation arrangements are being given top priority.

Heavy and light vehicles, except those associated with the Magh Mela, will be diverted to other routes before entering the Prayagraj district border. A route diversion system is being implemented for this purpose. Most importantly, the new Yamuna Bridge will be closed on January 23rd for the Basant Panchami bathing festival; traffic will be allowed only on the old bridge.