PRAYAGRAJ, Jan. 23 -- The fourth major bathing festival, Basant Panchami, at the ongoing 44-day annual religious fair concluded on Friday, witnessing an unprecedented turnout of 3.58 crore devotees at the holy Sangam in Prayagraj. Officials stated that this figure surpassed all previous Basant Panchami records for the event, including the turnout recorded during previous Maha Kumbh Mela editions.

According to official records, this year's turnout significantly exceeded the 2.57 crore devotees who took the holy dip on Basant Panchami during the last Maha Kumbh gathering.

Figures released by the Mela administration showed a steady surge in crowds throughout the day: the pilgrim count touched 1.03 crore by 8 am, reached 1.40 crore by 10 am...