Maha Kumbh: Holiday at UP govt offices as crowd swells for Basant Panchami

As Prayagraj sees crowds of devotees swell for the third Amrit Snan of the Maha Kumbh, government offices in the city have been given a holiday — ostensibly to help manage the large crowd on the occasion of Basant Panchami.

The district magistrate of Prayagraj has declared a holiday for government offices in an order saying: 'It is hereby informed that on the occasion of the main bathing festival of Basant Panchami, on February 3, due to the large crowd of devotees and bathers and traffic restrictions, a local holiday has been declared for government offices in Prayagraj district to maintain peace and law and order.'

With over 5 crore devotees expected to gather for the Amrit Snan, the state government has put extra precautionary measures in place, ensuring that the sequence of spiritual sects (akharas) arriving for the holy dip is carefully managed.

The Sangam, the site of last week's deadly crowd crush that resulted in the death of 30 people and injuries to over 60, is purportedly seeing a more organised approach this time to prevent overcrowding and any potential accidents.

At the break of dawn, several seers from various akharas gathered for the ritual, marking the beginning of the third Amrit Snan of the Mela.

By 4:00 a.m., reports indicated that 16.58 lakh devotees had already participated in the holy dip, with the Uttar Pradesh government anticipating a total of 5 crore devotees for Monday alone.

Authorities have been closely monitoring crowd movements, and special attention has been given to the ghats and pathways to ensure the safety of those gathered.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath was on high alert from the early hours of the morning, monitoring updates from the war room since 3 a.m. to ensure the smooth conduct of the Basant Panchami Amrit Snan at Mahakumbh 2025.

His primary focus was reportedly on the safety and well-being of the sants and devotees participating in the sacred ritual, as well as ensuring that all necessary arrangements were in place for a smooth and organised event.