Mahakumbh Mela 2025 highlights: Aerial footage reveals sea of devotees as 9.73 crore take holy dip

LIVE BLOG

• 23 Jan 2025, 02:39 PM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Draft constitution of Sanatan Board to be revealed at Dharm Sabha on January 27

  Renowned spiritual speaker Devkinandan Thakur announced on Thursday that the upcoming 'Dharma Sabha' scheduled for January 27 in Sector 17 will be commemorated as "Dharma Ki Swatantrata Ka Diwas" (Freedom of Religion Day), and the constitution draft of the 'Sanatan Board' will be presented on the day.

  Speaking at a press conference at the Niranjani Akhara, Thakur said, "Our dharma (religion) is not free because our temples are controlled by governments, our gurukuls (traditional schools) have been shut down, and our gau mata (sacred cows) are wandering on the streets. We need the Sanatan Board to advance our cause."

  He emphasised the significance of the Dharma Sabha, stating, "The event will see representation from all akhadas (monastic orders), representatives of the four Shankaracharyas (heads of monastic traditions), and individuals connected to Sanatan Dharma. We need the Sanatan Board from the government, and we will not leave the Kumbh without it."

  Mahant Swami Yatindranand Giri of the Juna Akhada said, "The Sanatan Board is not just necessary for India but for humanity at large. Terrorism, hatred, and anarchy worldwide can only be eradicated through the Sanatan Board."

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 02:12 PM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Bus carrying pilgrims to Prayagraj collides, several injured

  Seven pilgrims sustained minor injuries when the mini bus they were travelling in collided with an unidentified vehicle here on Thursday morning, officials said.

  The pilgrims were on their way to Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh is being held, according to officials.

  "The accident occurred this morning on the Kalyanpur Overbridge in the Kokhraj police station area. The mini bus, carrying 27 pilgrims from Mathura to Prayagraj, hit an unidentified vehicle that suddenly applied brakes," Superintendent of Police Brijesh Kumar Srivastava said.

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 02:02 PM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Fresh hope for differently abled as Mahakumbh offers free Limbs, treatment and rites

  Pilgrims are flocking to Maha Kumbh to take the holy dip in Sangam but several differently abled people have a different reason to visit Prayagraj -- free treatment and fitment of artificial limbs.

  Nestled in the midst of tents of various sects and religious groups is a camp by Naravan Seva Sansthan, a Jaipur-based charitable organisation working for the differently-abled. The doctors at the camp are busy attending the ‘divyang’ visitors while a team is taking measurements for prosthesis or artificial limbs.

  The sansthan is known for its philanthropic services in treatment and rehabilitation of polio-affected people.

  Jaishankar Kumar from Utaar Pradesh’s Balia whose both legs had to be amputated two years back following a severe infection is at the Kumbh with hope for a new lease of life.

  “Life has not been the same after I lost both my legs. I walk using crutches. Doctors suggested that I can use artificial limbs but they are expensive, not something I can afford. When we got to know that they will be available for free here, I and my family decided to visit Kumbh. We will also take the dip,” he told PTI.

   

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 02:02 PM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Fresh hope for differently abled as Mahakumbh offers free Limbs, treatment and rites

  Pilgrims are flocking to Maha Kumbh to take the holy dip in Sangam but several differently abled people have a different reason to visit Prayagraj -- free treatment and fitment of artificial limbs.

  Nestled in the midst of tents of various sects and religious groups is a camp by Naravan Seva Sansthan, a Jaipur-based charitable organisation working for the differently-abled. The doctors at the camp are busy attending the ‘divyang’ visitors while a team is taking measurements for prosthesis or artificial limbs.

  The sansthan is known for its philanthropic services in treatment and rehabilitation of polio-affected people.

  Jaishankar Kumar from Utaar Pradesh’s Balia whose both legs had to be amputated two years back following a severe infection is at the Kumbh with hope for a new lease of life.

  “Life has not been the same after I lost both my legs. I walk using crutches. Doctors suggested that I can use artificial limbs but they are expensive, not something I can afford. When we got to know that they will be available for free here, I and my family decided to visit Kumbh. We will also take the dip,” he told PTI.

   

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 01:10 PM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Saints from Russia, Ukraine come together for 'kirtan' and prayers

  #WATCH | #KumbhOfTogetherness | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Saints from Russia and Ukraine perform 'kirtan' and prayers at the Maha Kumbh. (22.01) pic.twitter.com/wKfouQMora

  — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2025

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 12:23 PM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Over 9.73 crore devotees take holy dip on day 11, aerial footage captures massive crowds, watch

  #WATCH | ANI drone camera gives a bird's eye view of Mahakumbh 2025 underway in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.
  
  Till today more than 9.73 crore devotees have taken a holy dip at Triveni Sangam during Mahakumbh.
  
  Drone visuals shot at 1135 hours pic.twitter.com/prreusRx3A

  — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2025

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 11:23 AM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Devotees gathered at Triveni Sangam to attend morning aarti, watch

  VIDEO | Maha Kumbh 2025: Morning aarti being performed at a Triveni Sangam ghat in Prayagraj.#MahaKumbhWithPTI
  (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/USr1eF6lkX

  — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 23, 2025

   

   

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 10:36 AM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Prayagraj to get its first super speciality hospital

  Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister AK Sharma has said that Prayagraj will get its first super speciality hospital. The Urban Development Department will invest Rs 100 crore to build the facility.

  Minister Sharma said that the key decision was made in the state Cabinet meeting held earlier on Wednesday at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. The Cabinet has also approved the issuance of municipal bonds for the development of infrastructure facilities for the municipal corporations of Prayagraj, Varanasi and Agra.

  A fund worth Rs 50 crore has been issued for all three districts, said the UP minister.

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 08:52 AM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: Thousand of South Africans expected to take holy dip in Prayagraj

  Several thousand people from South Africa are expected to flock to the Maha Kumbh Mela being held at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh before it officially ends on February 26.

  “In just the first few days since the Maha Kumbh was inaugurated on Jabuary 13, more than a hundred visas have been issued for people wanting to attend the event, with scores more using their OCI cards to attend the same,” Consul General of India in Johannesburg, Mahesh Kumar, said on Wednesday evening.

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 08:50 AM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: 'My objective is to awaken the youth, eradicate drugs, make everyone healthy', says Pahalwan Baba

  #WATCH | #KumbhOfTogetherness | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Rajpal Singh, also known as Pahalwan Baba, says, "My objective is to awaken the youth, eradicate drugs, make everyone healthy and make India a Vishwaguru... I am 50 years old and I can do 10,000 push-ups with one hand...… pic.twitter.com/9TN74m5T8c

  — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2025

  
• 23 Jan 2025, 07:18 AM

  Mahakumbh Mela 2025 live: 'Sanatan Dharma is wonderful,'says Bageshwar Dam Chief Dhirendra Krishna

  Bageshwar Dham Chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri on Wednessday spoke on the Maha Kumbh Mela and said that the Sanatana Dharma was a wonderful thing and it was a matter of pride that the Maha Kumbh was organized after 144 years.

  Speaking to the media, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri said "The Sanatan Dharma is wonderful and it is a matter of pride for us that the Maha Kumbh has been organized after 144 years, the feeling of which is divine unity.. It is a symbol of uniting the society and everyone. We are welcoming the whole world with both hands outstretched, with the ideology of 'Vasudhev Kutambakam..."