The grandest celebration of the year, the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, officially concluded on February 26. More than just a gathering, the festival was a divine confluence of faith, devotion and human spirit.

This edition of the mela was believed to be the most sacred in 144 years, drawing millions of pilgrims who embarked on this spiritual journey to dip in the holy waters of the Triveni Sangam. Mahakumbh 2025 also made history, shattering records with an unprecedented number of devotees.

Though the festival has now come to an end, its stories will continue to resonate—both in headlines and in the hearts of the people. Here are some of the key updates following this grand spiritual event:

On the final day of the Mahakumbh Mela, March 26, over 1.53 crore devotees took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. The massive turnout was driven by the occasion coinciding with Mahashivratri, a significant bathing day (Shahi Snan). Unlike previous years, when footfall typically declined after Magh Purnima (which fell on February 12), this time, the influx of pilgrims remained strong until the very last day of the festival.

The Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar commended the state's police force for executing an exceptional crowd management strategy during the Mahakumbh Mela 2025. For the first time in history, authorities leveraged advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to monitor and regulate the movement of over 65 crore devotees in Prayagraj. The integration of real-time surveillance and strategic planning played a crucial role in ensuring smooth crowd control throughout the grand event.

The DGP emphasised the coordinated efforts between various agencies, particularly the railways, which facilitated the seamless transportation of nearly 5 lakh pilgrims on peak bathing days and around 3-4 lakh on regular days.

The economic footprint of Mahakumbh 2025 also remained remarkable, with an estimated ₹3 lakh crore generated from tourism, hospitality and retail sectors. The influx of devotees significantly benefited local businesses, including hotels, transport services and vendors, making it one of the most financially impactful religious gatherings in history. This economic surge also highlighted the event’s contribution to job creation and infrastructure development in the region.

The Mahakumbh Mela 2025 witnessed an overwhelming turnout, far exceeding initial estimates. While authorities had anticipated a footfall of around 40 crore (400 million) devotees, the final count surpassed expectations, with over 65 crore (650 million) pilgrims taking a dip at Triveni Sangam.