India, Feb. 8 -- HT Correspondent

letters@hindustantimes.com

The total number of devotees having bathed at the Sangam since the beginning of the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on January 13 reached 40.68 crore (406.8 millon) on Friday (till 8pm), according to government claims. The number included 94.07 lakh who bathed on Friday itself.

Earlier, by 8pm on Thursday, the count reached 39.74 crore (397.4 million). As many as 67.20 lakh (6.72 million) pilgrims took a holy dip on Thursday alone.

By 10am on February 7, an additional 42.07 lakh devotees had taken a dip in the holy waters. By noon, the count of bathers on the day increased to 47 lakh on Friday followed by 78.78 lakh at 4pm and reached 94.07 lakh, according to official data.

Nineteen...