Prayagraj: Lakhs of devotees have gathered at Triveni Sangam for the annual Magh Mela which began on Saturday at UP’s Prayagraj.
Magh Mela revolves around the main ritual of a holy bath at dawn on auspicious days.
Devotees also engage in daily prayers, mantra chanting, and offerings to the river. The mela is further enriched by vibrant processions of saints, including Naga sadhus and various akharas.
The main bathing day is Mauni Amavasya, which falls on January 18.
There are many more auspicious days on which devotees look to take a holy dip — Paush Purnima, which was on January 3, Makar Sankranti (January 14), Basant Panchami (January 23), Magh Purnima (February 1) and Maha Shivratri (February 15).
One of the most respected practices of the Magh Mela is Kalpavas. Devotees undertaking Kalpavas live on the riverbanks for the entire month, often in simple tents. They follow a strict spiritual routine that includes daily bathing in the Ganga, fasting or eating simple meals, meditation, chanting, and prayers. Kalpavas typically begins around Paush Purnima or Makar Sankranti and continues until Magh Purnima or Maha Shivratri. For many, this period is a test of faith and a way to detach from worldly distractions.
Every year, lakhs of devotees travel to Prayagraj to participate in the Magh Mela on the banks of sacred Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet.
The Magh Mela marks a month dedicated to prayer, discipline, and ritual bathing, drawing pilgrims from across India and abroad. Devotees believe that a dip at the Sangam during this period is considered deeply transformative, as it cleanses sins, brings spiritual benefits, and even relieves devotees from the cycle of birth and death. This faith in the sanctity of the Sangam makes the Magh Mela one of the most significant religious events in the Hindu calendar.
According to Hindu mythology, during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), drops of nectar fell at four places — Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj. While the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years at these locations, the Magh Mela is observed annually only in Prayagraj.
Bathing at the Sangam during the month of Magh is believed to bring special spiritual rewards not attainable at any other time of the year.
Magh Mela thus remains not only a spiritual journey but also a profound cultural tradition that continues to inspire devotion across generations.
