What is Mauni Amavasya at the Magh Mela?

Mauni Amavasya is the largest bathing festival during the 45-day Magh Mela in Prayagraj, drawing millions of pilgrims.

How is Prayagraj managing the massive crowd for Mauni Amavasya?

The administration has developed a new ghat, divided the mela into zones, and banned vehicles to manage the expected 3.5-4 crore pilgrims.

When is the auspicious time to bathe on Mauni Amavasya in 2026?

The auspicious period begins at 12:04 am on January 17, 2026, and continues until 1:22 am on January 19, 2026.

Home / Lifestyle / Magh Mela: 4 Crore Pilgrims Converge for Auspicious Mauni Amavasya

Magh Mela: 4 Crore Pilgrims Converge for Auspicious Mauni Amavasya

18 Jan

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Summary

Over 3.5 crore pilgrims expected for Mauni Amavasya, the largest bathing festival.
New 600-foot ghat developed and mela divided into three zones for crowd management.
Vehicular traffic banned in Prayagraj from January 17 to January 19 midnight.

Magh Mela: 4 Crore Pilgrims Converge for Auspicious Mauni Amavasya

Prayagraj is preparing for an unprecedented surge of 3.5 to 4 crore pilgrims at the Magh Mela for the Mauni Amavasya bathing festival, the most significant event of the 45-day fair. This figure is a substantial increase from the over 1 crore pilgrims who attended Makar Sankranti.

To accommodate the massive crowd, the administration has constructed a new 600-foot ghat near the Kali pontoon bridge and implemented a zonal plan dividing the mela area into three administrative zones. This strategy aims to regulate devotee movement and prevent overcrowding. Vehicle entry into Prayagraj has been banned from January 17 to January 19, with only essential administrative and medical vehicles permitted.