Prayagraj-  Devotees are seen rejoicing as they take holy dips at the confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges rivers. Despite long journeys, their faces reflect the joy of reaching this sacred event.

The Kumbh Mela, which is believed to occur once every 144 years, has drawn millions of devotees who chant the name of God while bathing in designated spots along the riverbanks. The belief that the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers converge here adds to its religious significance, though the Saraswati River is not visibly present today.

According to Kumbh Mela Information Officer Gagan Yadav, the number of visitors has been rising daily since last month. 'AI-based cameras installed at intersections count the incoming crowd, and as many as 30 million devotees have attended in a single day,' he said.

The gathering has grown significantly, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. 'Managing the increasing crowd in the last five days has become a major challenge,' Yadav added.

So far, over 450 million people have visited the Maha Kumbh Mela, with devotees from various countries, including Nepal. The total attendance is expected to reach 550 million by the event's conclusion.

Yadav emphasized that Nepal could benefit from the Maha Kumbh Mela by promoting its own religious tourism. Many visitors also travel to Ayodhya’s Ram Temple and Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple, making it an opportunity to attract them to Nepal’s sacred sites like Pashupatinath, Muktinath, and Lumbini.

To accommodate the massive crowd, facilities have been arranged along the riverbanks for bathing, while temporary accommodations have also been set up. Additionally, a dedicated media center with residential facilities has been established for local, national, and international journalists.

The Indian government has spent Rs 75 billion on organizing the fair so far.-RSS/ Kamal Basnet