Mauni Amavasya 2026: Massive Devotee Turnout At Prayagraj’s Sangam For Magh Mela Holy Dip

Thousands of devotees gathered at the Sangam in Prayagraj on Sunday, January 18, to observe Mauni Amavasya, one of the most sacred days in the Hindu religious calendar. The occasion marked the third major ritual bath of the annual Magh Mela, drawing worshippers from across Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country.

From the early hours of the morning, large crowds converged at the Triveni Sangam, the revered confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Devotees took a ritual dip while observing Maun Vrat, or silence, a practice rooted in belief that the sacred bath on Mauni Amavasya purifies sins and helps attain spiritual liberation.

Visuals from the ghats showed vast numbers of pilgrims assembled along the riverbanks to participate in the snan. Apart from Prayagraj, similar scenes were reported from other major pilgrimage centres. Devotees were also seen visiting ghats in Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Kanpur and several other cities in Uttar Pradesh to mark the auspicious day.

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To manage the heavy footfall, the local administration put in place extensive arrangements across the Sangam area. These included additional bathing ghats, changing rooms for pilgrims and public address systems to guide crowds. Security was strengthened with the deployment of AI-enabled surveillance cameras and drones to monitor movement and ensure safety, officials said, as reported by ANI.

Mauni Amavasya falls in the Hindu month of Magha, which is why it is also referred to as Magha Amavasya. Religious tradition holds that on this day, devotees should bathe in holy rivers, offer Arghya to the Sun and engage in charitable acts. Such practices are believed to bring peace to ancestors’ souls and help devotees overcome obstacles in life.

The smooth conduct of the Mauni Amavasya snan reinforced Prayagraj’s central role as a major spiritual hub during the Magh Mela, with authorities continuing efforts to facilitate the rituals amid large crowds.