PRAYAGRAJ, Jan. 4 -- Magh Mela 2026 began on Saturday with the auspicious Paush Purnima bathing ritual, attracting an impressive turnout despite overcast skies and cold winds. Devotees started arriving at the Sangam as early as 4am and continued taking the holy dip throughout the day.

According to mela administration officials, over 31 lakh devotees, including 5 lakh kalpwasis, had taken a holy dip in the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati by 8pm, with a steady flow of pilgrims continuing from the morning onwards.

By 8am, over 6.5 lakh devotees had taken the ritual bath. The count climbed to 9 lakh by 10am, 15.3 lakh by 12 noon, and around 19 lakh by 2pm. By late afternoon, the figure had crossed 21.5 lakh by 5pm, with bathing con...