India, Feb. 27 -- The 45-day Mahakumbh, the world's largest religious gathering, came to an end at the Sangam with the sixth and last bathing festival of Mahashivaratri on Wednesday. The overall turnout of pilgrims during the course of the Mela stood at 66.30 crore (663 million), according to the government. As many as 1.53 crore devotees took a dip at the Triveni Sangam on final day (till 8pm on Wednesday), according to official figures.

Fighter jets as well as transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force performed a flypast as part of a special air show over the Sangam sky on Wednesday afternoon to mark the finale on a high note.

The mega event had taken off on January 13 (Paush Purnima Snan). Before the commencement of the Mela, the in...