All Roads Lead To Maha Kumbh Mela In Prayagraj

In a never seen before confluence of faith and devotion, millions of pilgrims are journeying to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela. The event, which started on January 13, has already witnessed over 43.57 crore people taking a sacred dip in the Sangam.

Initially, the government had anticipated that 40 to 45 crore participants would attend, but current trends indicate that the number may surpass 50 crore by the time Kumbh concludes on February 26.

There was a temporary dip in footfall following the stampede on Mauni Amavasya on January 29. However, the tide has turned, and pilgrims are returning in large numbers. It seems all roads are leading to Prayagraj.

The surge has also led to severe traffic congestion. Travel time to Prayagraj from cities like Lucknow is taking 13 hours instead of the usual four hours. According to reports, traffic jams extend over 10 km around Prayagraj, with all roads clogged with vehicles. The weekend rush further worsened the situation, causing additional traffic jams. Many people from nearby districts had planned to take a dip on Sunday and return by evening but had to change their plans. Vehicles are crawling for nearly 25 km on highways connecting Prayagraj with Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Rewa. Pilgrims, both arriving and departing, have been stranded for hours. Despite the hardships, people’s spirits remain unwavering.