PRAYAGRAJ, Sept. 29 -- The upcoming Magh Mela in 2026 is expected to witness a turnout of nearly 10 crore devotees, following the spiritual momentum generated by the Mahakumbh in 2025. Preparations for the grand annual religious fair have already begun, with the Prayagraj Mela Authority initiating preliminary meetings to ensure smooth planning and execution. Prayagraj district magistrate Manish Verma informed that an initial review meeting regarding the 2026 Magh Mela was held earlier this month, with another round of discussions scheduled for next month. "The recent floods have left a large portion of the mela grounds waterlogged and swampy. However, we expect the area to dry up by next month," said the DM. "Given the post-Mahakumbh enthusiasm, the number of devotees attending the upcoming Magh Mela is likely to surpass that of 2024." While no official estimate has yet been projected-since the event is still over three months away-officials anticipate a significant increase in footfall. In comparison, over 6 crore devotees took a holy dip during the 2024 Magh Mela. The Magh Mela 2026 is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2026, with the first major bathing day on Paush Purnima. Other significant bathing dates include: Makar Sankranti- January 14-15, 2026, Mauni Amavasya - January 18, 2026, Basant Panchami- January 23, 2026, Maghi Purnima - February 1, 2026 and Maha Shivratri - February 15, 2026....