LIVE Updates | Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: IITian Baba Missing From Mahakumbh; Watch Viral Video

Mahakumbh Mela 2025: It has been six days of Mahakumbh. During this time, more than 7 crore people have taken a holy dip in the Sangam. Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka will also come to Mahakumbh. Both the Congress leaders will take the blessings of Shankaracharya and saints after bathing. BJP MP Ravi Kishan from Gorakhpur also took a holy dip at Sangam. He said that the life of those who could not take a bath in this Mahakumbh after 144 years is wasted.

Image Credit: PTI

The Maha Kumbh 2025 commenced in Prayagraj with an atmosphere reverberating with bhajans and devotional slogans on Paush Poornima. January 14 marked a significant milestone as the Akharas of Sanatan Dharma performed the grand festival's first 'Amrit Snan' (royal bath). On the second day, more than 3.5 crore devotees took a holy dip in the sacred Sangam, creating a spiritual spectacle unmatched in scale and devotion.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday instructed officials to implement comprehensive arrangements for managing the influx of 8-10 crore devotees expected to gather at the Sangam for the sacred Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual during the Maha Kumbh on January 29. In a review meeting with senior officials covering the past three days' preparations, the chief minister highlighted that over six crore pilgrims had already participated in holy dips during the Paush Purnima and Makar Sankranti festivities.

The second 'Amrit Snan' of the Mahakumbh will take place on January 29, coinciding with Mauni Amavasya, also known as Maghi Amavasya. On this day, millions of devotees will gather to take a holy dip. There is a religious belief that on Mauni Amavasya, Amrit (nectar) rains from the sky, making the water spiritually significant. Therefore, the Amrit Snan on this day holds special importance in the Mahakumbh.

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18 January 2025

09:19 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live:  BJP is scared of Rahul-Priyanka's arrival at Mahakumbh: Congress spokesperson

Lucknow: Politics has started regarding the visit of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Maha Kumbh. Congress spokesperson has attacked BJP. Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi said that BJP is opposing Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi's visit to Maha Kumbh due to fear of exposing the corruption done by the BJP government in Maha Kumbh. Gandhi family has an old and deep relationship with Maha Kumbh and Prayagraj. BJP does politics in the name of religion, hence it is calling Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi's visit to Maha Kumbh as politics. 

09:14 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Four Siblings Set Up A Tea And Snack Stall

Prayagraj: Inspired by the grandeur of the Maha Kumbh Mela after seeing it on social media, four siblings from Gorakhpur came up with the idea of starting a tea and snack stall at the massive fair. Driven by excitement, they left for Prayagraj without informing their parents and set up their stall amidst the bustling crowds of the sacred event, hoping to make their entrepreneurial dream a reality.

09:03 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Preparations in full swing for second 'Amrit Snan' at Mahakumbh 2025

After the successful completion of the first Amrit Snan at the Mahakumbh on January 14, the administration is now ramping up its preparations for the second Amrit Snan, scheduled for January 29. 

This highly anticipated ritual coincides with Mauni Amavasya, or Maghi Amavasya, a day of immense spiritual significance when millions of devotees gather at the Triveni Sangam for a holy dip.

"We are continuously working on cleanliness and ensuring that proper instructions are given. The success of the first Amrit Snan shows our preparation is on track, and we are making sure all issues faced previously are resolved," Chaturvedi said.

He also emphasised that the administration is focusing on keeping the river and ghats clean, alongside making comprehensive preparations to ensure a smooth experience for pilgrims.

“We are visiting Akharas and making sure all necessary facilities are in place for the upcoming Amrit Snan,” he added.

The second Amrit Snan, which will take place on Mauni Amavasya, holds deep religious importance as it is believed that on this day, nectar (amrit) rains from the sky, making the water spiritually potent. Bathing on this day is said to offer immense spiritual benefits, and it marks one of the most significant rituals of the entire Kumbh Mela.

(With IANS Inputs)

09:02 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Arrangements At Mahakumbh; An Overview

The Ministry of Tourism said it is setting up the Incredible India Pavilion, a sprawling 5000 sq ft space at Mahakumbh, which will facilitate foreign tourists, scholars, researchers, photographers, journalists, the expat community, Indian diaspora, as per ANI report. The pavilion will also feature the Dekho Apna Desh People's Choice Poll, allowing visitors to vote for their favourite tourism destinations in India.

To cater to the specific needs of foreign tourists, influencers, journalists, and photographers attending Maha Kumbh, the Ministry of Tourism has set up a dedicated toll-free Tourist Infoline (1800111363 or 1363).

Besides English and Hindi the Toll-Free Infoline is now operating in ten (10) International languages and also in Indian languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Marathi.

09:01 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Global Devotees At Mahakumbh

Reportedly, several devotees from Japan, Russia, South Korea, Europe and other nations will also be in India to experience the 45-day festival.

09:00 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Flight bookings and airfares to Prayagraj soar

Bookings for flights to Prayagraj have skyrocketed as the Maha Kumbh draws near, with airfares jumping significantly. According to ixigo, one-way ticket prices from Delhi to Prayagraj have risen by 21%, reaching an average of Rs 5,748. Meanwhile, Bhopal to Prayagraj flights have surged by 498%, with fares soaring to Rs 17,796 from Rs 2,977 last year. The overall demand has led to a multi-fold increase in airfare, particularly for major metro routes, reported by TOI.

09:00 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live:  Culture exhibition till 15 February

Sanatan culture exhibition is going to be organized in the camp of Sanatan Sanstha located in Sector 9 till February 15. National spokesperson of the organization Chetan Rajhans said that the exhibition providing information on Sanatan Dharma in simple language has started from January 12. The exhibition will be open for the public from 9 am to 9 pm.

08:52 IST

Mahakumbh 2025 Live Updates: IITian Baba missing from Mahakumbh

IITian Baba i.e. Abhay Singh, who made headlines from the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, has suddenly gone missing from Kumbh. No one knows where he has gone. His parents reached the Kumbh Mela area looking for him but they could not find Abhay Singh. IITian Baba was staying at the 16 Madi Ashram of Juna Akhara. Earlier, a video of IITian Baba Abhay Singh dancing merrily on a Tangdi with saints in the ashram has also gone viral. 

Watch Viral Video:

Mahakumbh 2025 Viral Video: Abhay Singh, famous as IIT Baba, has become a topic of discussion in Mahakumbh. A video of this Baba IIT Baba Abhay Singh dancing merrily on one leg has gone viral. This video is said to be of a camp of some Akhara in Mahakumbh.

08:49 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Google's way to celebrate grand spiritual event Rose Petal Shower Animation

When users search for “Maha Kumbh” in Hindi or English on Google, their screens bloom with a beautiful rose petal animation. This interactive spectacle demonstrates Google's tradition of celebrating significant cultural moments through special effects.

07:52 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Three thousand Naga saints will be made in 13 akhadas of Mahakumbh

More than 3 thousand Naga saints will be made in 3 Akharas in Maha Kumbh on 19th November, Naga saints will be made after the process of Vijaya Havan in three Akharas of Sanyasi tradition... What is the process of Vijaya Havan called.

07:51 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: 30 lakh devotees took holy dip on the fifth day of Mahakumbh

Even after the Amrit Snan of Makar Sankranti in Prayagraj Mahakumbh, lakhs of people are reaching for bathing every day. In total, about 7 crore devotees have taken a dip in Sangam in five days. On Friday, on the fifth day also, about 30 lakh people took bath in Sangam. 

07:41 IST

Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: 'Till Now 2 Crore People Have Come To Maha Kumbh'

Avnish Kumar Awasthi, advisor to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , said on Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, “The Kumbh of 2019 was very good under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi and the arrangements made by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in which more than 25 crore people came. Yesterday about 1.5 crore and today till now 2 crore people have come to Maha Kumbh… Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is monitoring Maha Kumbh every hour… We believe that this time more than 50 crore people will come to Maha Kumbh.” 

07:38 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Tech to meet Tradition with Drone Show, Remote-Controlled Lifebuoys And More

Cutting-edge technology will light up the night sky of Sangam during the upcoming Maha Kumbh, as a fleet of 2,000 drones will take off in the holy city of Prayagraj to depict the mythical 'Samudra Manthan' and the emergence of 'Amrit Kalash'. The Union Culture Ministry on Tuesday said that Maha Kumbh 2025 is set to be a "divine and digitally advanced event", reflecting the "seamless integration" of spirituality and technology.

"These stalls will show videos of major events such as 'peshwai' (grand procession of 'akhadas'), auspicious bathing days ('snaan'), 'Ganga aarti', and multiple special footage from the grand festival of faith and harmony," the ministry said in a statement. A major attraction will be a drone show in the night skies of the holy city.

"A fleet of 2,000 drones will narrate the legendary tales of 'Prayag Mahatmyam' and 'Samudra Manthan', creating a magical evening spectacle over the Sangam Nose," it said. The drone show will also depict the emergence of 'Amrit Kalash' (nectar pot), creating a "magical visual narrative in the evening sky", the statement said.

(With PTI Inputs)

07:37 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live:  Around 4000 CRPF personnale, 10000 GRP Officials and many more have been stationed in Prayagraj," stated Sashi Kant Tripathi

He added, "More than 80 Mela Special Trains will operate tomorrow, bringing the total number of trains in service to around 300. These will facilitate the movement of passengers to their destinations. Since Makar Sankranti is the day after tomorrow, we have also started inward special train services."
The railway official noted that staff from across the country had been deployed in Prayagraj to support the Kumbh operations, with assistance from Indian Railways' regional departments.

"Around 4,000 personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 10,000 from the Government Railway Police (GRP), and officials from various other departments have been stationed in Prayagraj," Tripathi said.

07:19 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: North Central Railways To Run Over 300 Trains For Grand Event In Prayagraj

The North Central Railway (NCR) appears fully prepared to manage the massive influx of pilgrims for the Maha Kumbh, with plans to operate over 300 trains, including 80 special services, to ensure efficient transportation for devotees arriving in Prayagraj, an NCR official said.

Shashi Kant Tripathi said, "We began our preparations for the Maha Kumbh two years ago. Now, our preparations have reached a level where we can confidently welcome all our passengers. Our long-distance special trains commenced services on January 1, including 50 operations. Our ring rail services started on January 10, and unreserved short-distance regular trains will begin tomorrow, coinciding with the first day of the Maha Kumbh."

(With ANI Inputs)

07:15 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: World’s largest gathering captures global attention

According to TOI reports, The Maha Kumbh 2025, the world’s largest religious congregation, has captivated international media, with major outlets highlighting its spiritual, cultural, and political significance. The New York Times described it as a "sacred" event drawing devotees, tourists, politicians, and celebrities. Their Instagram post, garnering 71,700 likes and 1,533 comments, termed the festival a monumental gathering where millions unite at the Triveni Sangam for a sacred dip.

07:02 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Tejas aircraft emerges as new attraction, conveys message of 'self-reliance'

The 'Tejas Pandal' at the ongoing Mahakumbh 2025, inspired by the Indian Air Force's HAL Tejas aircraft, has become a major attraction for devotees in Prayagraj. Mahant Brijbhushan Das Ji Maharaj, who played a pivotal role in its creation, explained that the pandal symbolizes India's progress and strength. Visitors from around the world are flocking to the structure, capturing memories while celebrating the nation’s rich cultural heritage.

Mahant Brijbhushan Das Ji Maharaj stated, "The Tejas aircraft is a symbol of India's pride, strength, and self-reliance. Built in India, it represents our ability to meet any challenge. The Tejas gate at Mahakumbh sends a powerful message that India is now strong and independent." He further emphasized India’s achievements in space exploration and its growing global presence.

Vipin Upadhyay, another Acharya, highlighted the inspiration behind the design, aiming to motivate the younger generation. He said, "Our goal is to inspire youth to move forward, take on meaningful work, and contribute to shaping a future we can all be proud of."

The Tejas Pandal not only serves as a major draw for devotees but also tells the story of India's development and cultural pride. Devotees visiting the Maha Kumbh are taking photos with the pandal, enhancing the appeal of the religious event.

(With ANI Inputs)

07:02 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Over 3 million devotees take holy dip at Triveni Sangam until 6 pm on Day 4

On the fourth day of the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, over 3 million devotees participated in the holy dip at Triveni Sangam, including 1 million Kalpvasis and 2 million additional pilgrims. More than 70 million people have attended the event so far, with over 35 million on Makar Sankranti, January 14.

The Prayagraj administration has set up an AI-based computerized lost and found center, which has successfully reunited lost individuals with their families, offering accommodation, food, and clothing.

A 21-member international delegation from 10 countries also visited the Kumbh Mela to take a holy dip, reflecting the global interest in the event. The delegation included representatives from countries like Guyana, UAE, Fiji, and Finland.

The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13, will run until February 26, with key bathing dates such as January 29, February 3, February 12, and February 26.

07:02 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: IMD issues Orange alert till January 17 for Prayagraj, possibility of rain, fog in Kumbh Mela

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for Prayagraj, where the Kumbh Mela is taking place, for today and tomorrow due to expected rain and fog conditions. IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy noted that fog, even if not very dense, will have a significant impact, and rain is likely to increase starting January 18. A third western disturbance is expected between January 21-22, bringing more rain to the plains.

Additionally, dense fog is predicted in northwest India, including Punjab, Haryana, north UP, and Delhi, with temperatures expected to drop by 2-3°C in the coming days. A Yellow alert has been issued for dense fog in these regions. Heavy rainfall has been recorded in parts of Tamil Nadu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, with more expected.

The Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj continues with millions of devotees participating, including a large crowd on Makar Sankranti. To assist the massive influx of pilgrims, the local administration has set up an AI-based lost and found center.

(With ANI Inputs)

06:59 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: 10 crore devotees can take bath on Mauni Amavasya

Yogi government has estimated that this time 10 crore devotees will reach Triveni Sangam to take bath on Mauni Amavasya festival. The view of which is already being seen on the banks of Sangam.

06:59 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Day 5 witnessed 1.78 million pilgrims and 1 million Kalpavasis

Day 5 of the 2025 Mahakumbh Mela witnessed more than 1.78 million pilgrims and 1 million Kalpavasis visiting the grand event till 4 pm Friday, official data showed. According to the data released, over 2.78 million people took a dip in the Triveni Sangam at the grand celebration on the fifth day till 4 pm.

06:57 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: PM Modi is coming to take a holy dip in Mahakumbh

So far 7 crore devotees have taken bath in Mahakumbh. On the fifth day also about 30 lakh people took a holy dip in Sangam. Meanwhile, there is news that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also coming to take a holy dip in Mahakumbh. According to the information, PM Modi can come to Prayagraj Mahakumbh on 8th or 9th February for Sangam bath. Let us tell you that CM Yogi himself met the Prime Minister and invited him to come to Kumbh. 

06:56 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Magh Mela; A Mini Kumbh

Magh Mela, or ‘Chhota Kumbh,’ is held annually in Prayagraj during the month of Magh (January-February), attracting thousands for a ritualistic dip.

06:55 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Significance of Taking A Holy Dip At Kumbh

At the core of the Kumbh Mela is the sacred ritual of snan (holy bathing) in the revered rivers. Pilgrims from around the globe gather at the Triveni Sangam—the meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—to immerse themselves in these spiritually charged waters. This ritual is not merely a physical act but is deeply symbolic, believed to bestow immense spiritual benefits. In Hindu tradition, bathing during the auspicious days of the Kumbh Mela is thought to cleanse one of sins accumulated over countless lifetimes, paving the way for moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

06:54 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Historical and Mythological Background

The Kumbh Mela finds its roots in Hindu mythology, particularly in the tale of the Samudra Manthan, or the churning of the ocean. Ancient scriptures recount this cosmic event as a joint effort between the Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons) to obtain Amrit, the nectar of immortality. During the churning, a kumbh (pot) containing the nectar emerged. To prevent the demons from claiming immortality, Vishnu, in his form as Mohini, took possession of the pot and fled. Along the way, a few drops of the nectar fell at four locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik.

These four sites became sacred, hosting the Kumbh Mela on a rotating basis. Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) holds special significance not only because of its association with the myth but also due to its geography. It is home to the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, considered one of Hinduism’s holiest sites, infused with exceptional spiritual energy.

06:53 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Date For Holy Bath In Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

January 13, 2025: Paush Purnima
January 14, 2025: Makar Sankranti (First Shahi Snan)
January 29, 2025: Mauni Amavasya (Second Shahi Snan)
February 3, 2025: Basant Panchami (Third Shahi Snan)
February 12, 2025: Maghi Purnima.
February 26, 2025: Mahashivratri (Final Snan)

06:49 IST

Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Live: Purna Kumbh vs Maha Kumbh

Purna Kumbh after 12 years, Ardh Kumbh every six years. This is Maha Kumbh because it comes once every 144 years that means after completion of 12 Purna Kumbh and this Maha Kumbh only happens in Prayagraj.