Prayagraj witnessed a tragic incident on Wednesday as a stampede broke out at the Sangam Nose during the Mauni Amavasya holy dip, one of the most significant days of the Maha Kumbh 2025. The incident occurred in the pre-dawn hours when millions of devotees rushed towards the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. More than 10 pilgrims died, many were injured, and many families were torn apart in the confusion.
Deadly Stampede at Sangam Nose
The tragedy occurred as a large flow of people pushed through obstacles to reach Sangam Nose, a sacred area where saints and religious leaders from the different akhadas take a ritual bath. Even with efforts being made to manage the crowds, the sheer size of the devotees provided a challenge to the law enforcement to keep peace.
Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged devotees to avoid the Sangam Nose and instead take dips at the other designated ghats spread across the 4,000-hectare Kumbh Mela site.
“Around 8-10 crore devotees are present in Prayagraj today. There is continuous pressure due to the movement of devotees towards the Sangam Nose, CM Adityanath told ANI.
What is the Sangam Nose?
The Sangam Nose is a land triangular shaped formation at the meeting point of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, just before it flows into the undiscovered Saraswati. It is regarded as the holiest place of the Triveni Sangam, where Hindus believe a dip brings the washing off of sins, and makes one liberated from the cycle of birth and death.
Bathing at the Sangam Nose is thought to have a unique sacred meaning during the once-in-144-years the Maha Kumbh because of astronomical alignments. The existence this view leads to, to many pilgrims, to try it at that one place and many times engulf it in dangerous overcrowding.
Astrologer Pandit Ramesh Pandey told the BBC, “There is a belief in Hinduism that a person achieves liberation by taking bath in Sangam Nose. This is the reason that every devotee desires to come to the Sangam and take bath.
High Footfall on Key Bathing Days
With a throng unparalleled so far, there has been a great movement of devotees in the Sangam Nose since the beginning of the Maha Kumbh. On January 13, during Poush Purnima, more than 3 lakh pilgrims took a dip per hour. In the second day of the Amrit Snan, the same euphoria was noted on January 14.
Mauni Amavasya celebrated on January 29 is the second Shahi Snan and witnessed the most footfall so far. The last (Shahi) Snan is to be performed on 3 February, Baasant Panchami. Apart from above, three other major processional bathing days will attract millions of people at the Kumbh Mela.
Even with the large volume of pilgrimage at the Sangam Nose, authorities stress the fact that many ghats in the riverbanks of the Ganga and Yamuna are part of the Kumbh Mela site which has been set up.
“Ghats have been made across the entire Kumbh area. Devotees don’t need to move towards Sangam Nose only. They should have holy dip at the chabutra/ghat adjacent to them”, CM Adityanath requested.
Expansion of Sangam Nose for Maha Kumbh 2025
To meet the proliferation of expected record-breaking crowds for Maha Kumbh 2025, the government of Uttar Pradesh has been lengthening the eastern edge of Sangam Nose prior to its inauguration. About 26 hectares of new land were brought into the area between Shastri Bridge and Sangam Nose.
As well, the UP Irrigation Department erected sandbags along a 1,650-meter-long section to build temporary ghats which enhanced the ability of the site to provide shelter to more than 2 lakh devotees in an hour. This marks a fourfold increase from the 2019 Kumbh Mela, when the bathing capacity stood at 50,000 per hour.
Authorities Urge Caution Amid Religious Fervor
Despite the expansion efforts, the massive influx of devotees continues to pose significant challenges for crowd management. The stampede at the Sangam Nose on Mauni Amavasya serves as a grim reminder of the risks associated with overcrowding at religious events.
Although the spirituality of the Sangam Nose cannot be denied, the Bengal rulers emphasize on the importance of the safety of devotees. In an announcement, the State government of Uttar Pradesh has again urged the pilgrims to spread out on the numerous ghats available to them, for a safe and better organised Kumbh Mela.
With the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025, lakh after lakh devotees are predicted to reach prayagraj for the upcoming Shahi Snan and significant bathing days. In response to a series of improved crowd control strategies and public response, authorities are challenging tragic loss at one of the world’s most attended faiths events.
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