Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live Updates: PM Modi calls Kumbh 'confluence of equality and harmony' on Mann ki Baat

LIVE BLOG

• 20 Jan 2025, 11:58 PM

  This live blog is closed now.

  
• 20 Jan 2025, 05:55 PM

  49.94 lakh devotees took holy bip by 4 PM

  On the 8th day of the Maha Kumbh, government records showed that over 49.94 lakh devotees had taken a holy dip at Triveni Sangam by 4 pm. By that time, more than 8.5 crore devotees had already bathed at the sacred site.

   

   

  
• 20 Jan 2025, 05:51 PM

  Kumar Vishwas to Narrate Ram Katha at Maha Kumbh

  Renowned poet Dr. Kumar Vishwas will present the famous Ram Katha, Apne Apne Ram, at the Ganga Pandal in Sector 1 during the Maha Kumbh. This event is part of the Sanskriti Ka Sangam program, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Uttar Pradesh Department of Culture.

  The Ram Katha will take place for three days, starting from January 20, between 5 pm and 8 pm.

   

  
• 20 Jan 2025, 09:16 AM

  Initiation process of over 100 Naga Sanyasinis begins

  With the Maha Kumbh underway in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, the initiation process for over hundred women to become 'Naga Sanyasini' of Juna Akhada began on Sunday. The registration process for the initiation is currently underway, and in the first phase, 102 women were given the 'Naga Diksha', said Divya Giri, a saint at the Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhada.
  
  They were granted the title of 'Avdhutani', after 12 years of serving under their guru, she said.

  Dressed in a 2.75-metre unstitched clothes, the Avdhutani group arrived at the banks of the Ganga and their head was shaved as per tradition.
  
  After taking a holy dip in the Ganga, they were given a water pot (Kamandal), Ganga 'jal', and a staff.
  
  The final part of the initiation process will be performed by the Juna Akhada's Acharya Mahamandaleshwar, Swami Avadheshanand Giri.
  
  Three foreigners also took part in the Naga Sanyasini initiation, making them members of the Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhada, Divya Giri said.

  Among them, Bankiya Mariam from Italy took the 'Naga Diksha' and was rechristened Shivani Bharti. Bequeven Marie from France, after the initiation, is now renamed Kamakhya Giri. Mokshita Rai from Nepal also received the 'Naga Diksha' at the akhada and has been named Mokshita Giri.

  -PTI

  
• 20 Jan 2025, 07:07 AM

  Cylinder explosions cause major fire at Mahakumbh on Sunday

  
  
  A significant fire erupted at the Maha Kumbh Mela after two gas cylinders exploded in Sector 19, leading to flames engulfing several tents. Bhaskar Mishra, the in-charge of Akhara Police Station, confirmed that firefighters were promptly deployed to combat the blaze.
  
  Ravindra Kumar, the District Magistrate of Prayagraj, stated that the fire broke out around 4:30 PM within a tent belonging to Gita Press and quickly spread to ten adjacent tents. Emergency teams from the police and local administration responded swiftly, managing to extinguish the fire. Kumar reassured that there have been no reported injuries or fatalities, and the situation is now under control.

  Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site to assess the situation and spoke with officials and firefighting teams. The fire was brought under control thanks to the rapid response of approximately 15 fire tenders stationed nearby as part of safety measures for the massive event.