The 44-day religious congregation held at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the legendary Saraswati will continue till February 15, 2026, culminating on Maha Shivratri.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended best wishes on the occasion. In a post on Twitter, he said, “Hearty greetings and good wishes to all the devotees and residents of the state on the auspicious beginning of Magh Mela and the holy Pausha Purnima.”
Welcoming the saints and pilgrims, the Chief Minister said, “Hearty welcome and greetings to all the revered saints, religious leaders, Akharas and Kalpvasis who have come for Sangam Snan at Teerthraj Prayag. May Mother Ganga, Mother Yamuna and Mother Saraswati fulfill everyone’s wishes – this is my prayer.”
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Magh Mela, which is considered one of the most important spiritual events in the Sanatan tradition, has started gathering in huge crowds of sages, saints, Kalpavasis and pilgrims from all over the country. One of the central aspects of the fair is Kalpavas, a month-long ritual during which devotees live by the river bank and follow a disciplined routine of daily bathing, prayer, meditation and charity. The administration estimates that this year more than 25 lakh Kalpavasis will participate.
From the early hours of Saturday, scenes at the Sangam were visible with intense religious fervor, with large crowds gathering for the ritual bath. To ensure smooth conduct of the event, the district administration has made extensive arrangements including temporary accommodation, pontoon bridges, sanitation facilities, medical camps and uninterrupted water and power supply throughout the mela area.
Security measures have been significantly strengthened for Magh Mela 2026. NDRF and SDRF divers have been deployed at major bathing ghats, while more than 400 AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drone surveillance systems are being used for round-the-clock surveillance.
Additional police personnel as well as special teams like Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) have also been deployed at the venue for crowd control and traffic management.
Ahead of the first Snan Parv, Additional Commissioner of Police Ajay Pal Sharma said, “Today is the first major Snan Parv of Magh Mela 2026. To monitor the area, drones, AI-enabled cameras and AI-based systems have been deployed for constant surveillance. Our traffic and security teams are present on the ground to ensure smooth movement.”
During Magh Mela, six major bathing festivals will be celebrated on 3 January, 14 January, 18 January, 23 January, 1 February and 15 February.
In the coming weeks, Magh Mela will stand as a reflection of India’s rich spiritual heritage supported by careful administrative planning and advanced security infrastructure.