Maha Kumbh 2025 Live: Maha Kumbh, the world's largest gathering of humanity, is expected to host around 45 crore people over the next 45 days, beginning today. Devotees from across the world arrive at the Triveni Sangam - a sacred confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati - in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to take a holy dip. Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, too has arrived for the Maha Kumbh Mela.
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 begins today with the Paush Purnima Snan (bath) and will conclude on February 26, 2025, coinciding with Maha Shivratri. Held once every 12 years, people attend Maha Kumbh to take a dip in the sacred waters, believed to wash away sins and purify the soul.
To help devotees, special arrangements including floating police chowki (post), 1.5 lakh tents, drones, and 2,700 cameras with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities have been deployed. A team of 56 cyber warriors will monitor online threats and cyber help desks have been set up in all police stations in the city.
Kumbh Sah'AI'yak chatbot has been designed to provide real-time guidance and updates to devotees attending the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025.
Here are the Live Updates of Maha Kumbh 2025:
"Streets Are Clean And": Foreign Devotees Praise Maha Kumbh's Beauty And Hospitality
Sisters Gita, Lalita Won't Get Separated At Maha Kumbh. See What They Did
Getting separated at the Kumbh Mela and reuniting miraculously decades later is a common Bollywood storyline. But this has been a reality for many in the past. To avoid this during the Maha Kumbh 2025, two sisters - Gita and Lalita, residents of Jharkhand - have tied their bangles on each of their hands with a red ribbon.
Read the full story here.
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Grand Security Arrangements In Place
- Underwater drones capable of diving up to 100 meters have been deployed across the city to provide round-the-clock surveillance at the Sangam area.
- Tethered drones, capable of reaching heights up to 120 meters, will provide aerial views to identify swelling crowds or areas requiring medical or security intervention.
- 2,700 cameras with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities will provide real-time monitoring.
- Facial recognition technology will be used at entry points.
- 56 cyber warriors will monitor online threats.
Helicopter Ride Offers Aerial View Of Maha Kumbh For Rs 1,296
A seven to eight-minute helicopter ride offering aerial view of the Maha Kumbh is one of the highlights of the 45-day event.
The ride can be booked online through www.upstdc.co.in and will be facilitated by Pawan Hans, an undertaking of the Government of India.
The ride is priced at Rs 1,296 per person, down from the initial fare of Rs 3,000.
Maha Kumbh 2025 LIVE: Hospitals Built At 3 Police Stations Between Varanasi, Prayagraj
Hospitals have been built at three police stations premises on National Highway 19 between Varanasi and Prayagraj for the convenience of devotees coming to attend the Maha Kumbh 2025.
Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik on Sunday said that hospitals have been built in Aurai, Gopiganj and Unj police station premises of the Bhadohi district. All the three hospitals will start functioning on January 14.
Maha Kumbh 2025 Expected To Generate Rs 2 Lakh Crore
Maha Kumbh 2025 is projected to generate up to Rs 2 lakh crore in economic growth for Uttar Pradesh. According to the government estimates, the event may generate Rs 2 lakh crore if each of 40 crore visitors spends an average of Rs 5,000.
"Mahakumbh will witness large-scale economic and trade activities. An estimate suggests that with an average expenditure of Rs 5,000 per person during religious travel, the total spending will exceed Rs 2 lakh crore. This includes spending on hotels, guesthouses, temporary accommodations, food, religious items, healthcare, and other services" said Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
The food and beverage sector, including packaged foods, water, biscuits, juices, and meals, is estimated to add Rs 20,000 crore to the overall trade, as per CAIT estimates. Religious items and offerings, such as oil, lamps, Ganga water, idols, incense sticks, and religious books, are another major area of economic activity, contributing an estimated Rs 20,000 crore.
While transportation and logistics is expected to account for Rs 10,000 crore, tourism services, such as tour guides, travel packages, and related activities, are likely to contribute another Rs 10,000 crore.
Temporary medical camps, Ayurvedic products, and medicines could bring in Rs 3,000 crore.
While sectors like e-ticketing, digital payments, Wi-Fi services, and mobile charging stations are expected to see business worth Rs 1,000 crore, entertainment and media are projected to generate Rs 10,000 crore in trade.
Maha Kumbh 2025: PM Modi Wishes Pilgrims A Wonderful Stay
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took it to social media site X (formerly Twitter on this "very special day", the beginning of Maha Kumbh 2025 to wish the pilgrims and tourists coming to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
A very special day for crores of people who cherish Bharatiya values and culture!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 13, 2025
Maha Kumbh 2025 commences in Prayagraj, bringing together countless people in a sacred confluence of faith, devotion and culture. The Maha Kumbh embodies India’s timeless spiritual heritage and…
Maha Kumbh 2025 Live Updates: Laurene Powell Jobs, Wife Of Steve Jobs, Visits Niranjani Akhara
#InPics | Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of Steve Jobs, visits Niranjani Akhara at #MahaKumbh #LaurenePowell pic.twitter.com/0CTHZpqG9M
— NDTV (@ndtv) January 13, 2025
Kumbh Sah'AI'yak: Your Personal Guide For Maha Kumbh 2025
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched Kumbh Sah'AI'yak chatbot, a generative AI tool that will act as a digital companion for the millions of devotees gathering at Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh. The chatbot offers information on the history, places to stay, travel packages and other facilities related to Maha Kumbh 2025.
The multilingual chatbot has 11 language options. It is available of WhatsApp, official Maha Kumbh website and app.
Maha Kumbh 2025: 60 Lakh People Take Holy Dip As Of 9:30 AM
On the first morning of Maha Kumbh 2025, 60 lakh people took the holy dip by 9:30 AM on the occasion of 'Paush Purnima'. Speaking to media, Maha Kumbh Mela DIG Vaibhav Krishna said, "All the arrangements have been taken care of. Crowd regulation is going on. We have enough space for the parking of vehicles. Central and State police forces are deployed here and we are ready to tackle any kind of situation..."
#WATCH | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Devotees took a holy dip in Triveni Sangam - a sacred confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and 'mystical' Saraswati as today, January 13 - Paush Purnima marks the beginning of the 45-day-long #MahaKumbh2025
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2025
(Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/fVmy3YyUkN
Maha Kumbh 2025: "Water Is Cold But Heart Filled With Warmth": Foreigners Take Holy Dip As Maha Kumbh Begins
Despite the freezing waters during the cold winter season, a group of foreign devotees took a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam, as Maha Kumbh 2025 begins today.
A Brazilian devotee Fransisco says, "I practice Yoga and I am searching for Moksha. It's amazing here, India is the spiritual heart of the world... Water is cold but the heart is filled with warmth."
#WATCH | Prayagraj | A Brazilian devotee at #MahaKumbh2025, Fransisco says, "I practice Yoga and I am searching for Moksha. It's amazing here, India is the spiritual heart of the world... Water is cold but the heart is filled with warmth." pic.twitter.com/as1oBQXmGl
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2025
