Prayagraj: Preparations for Magh Mela have intensified on the sacred sands of Sangam in Prayagraj. After the allotment of land, camps of saints, saints and various Akharas have started. The huge city of tents is gradually taking its form. Let us tell you that this time Magh Mela will start from 3 January 2026, which will end after the last bath of Mahashivratri on 15 February. According to the fair officials, there will be Paush Purnima on 3 January, Makar Sankranti on 15 January, Mauni Amavasya on 18 January, Basant Panchami on 30 January, Maghi Purnima on 1 February, and the holy bath of Mahashivratri on 15 February. There is a possibility of a crowd of lakhs gathering on every bathing festival.
From 3 January Paush Purnima to 1 February Maghi Purnima, about 20 to 25 lakh Kalpavasis will observe a month of rigorous sadhana, penance, chanting and a strict life on the banks of Sangam. Officials are estimating that a total of 12 to 15 crore devotees will take a holy dip in the Sangam on major bathing festivals during the entire one and a half month long fair. Amidst the fast-paced preparations, special attention is being paid to security, lighting, roads, drinking water and cleanliness in the fair area.
City being built on 800 hectares
The administration has started major preparations to make Magh Mela 2026 grand, safe and convenient. This time the fair area is being spread over 800 hectares in 7 sectors, where extensive arrangements are being made for the convenience of crores of devotees. All the departments have been handed over their responsibilities and the work is going on war footing. The Irrigation Department will ensure availability of 10 thousand cusecs of water per day in Sangam. Namami Gange Project has been given the responsibility of maintaining the purity of Ganga water. UP Jal Nigam is laying 242 km of drinking water line and 85 km of sewer line so that not even a drop of sewer goes into the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
2 hospitals will be built in the fair area
At the same time, PWD is building 7 pontoon bridges and 160 km of checkered plate is being laid, so that the devotees do not face any problem in movement. Power Corporation will ensure continuous power supply and security by constructing 25 temporary power sub-stations. There is also emphasis on health facilities. Two 20-bed hospitals, 12 primary health centres, two health centres, one vector control unit, five Ayurvedic and five homeopathic hospitals are being prepared in the fair area. Apart from this, 50 ambulances will always be ready. For cleanliness and sanitation, the Urban Development Department is deploying 25 thousand toilets, 8 thousand dustbins, 10 lakh liner bags and 30 suction machines. More than 3,000 sanitation workers will be appointed to clean the fair area.
3800 buses will be deployed for the fair
42 parking spaces are being created for the movement of devotees. A comprehensive plan has been prepared for traffic and crowd management. The Transport Corporation will run 3800 buses, including 3000 regular, 75 shuttle and 200 reserve buses, and electric buses from the city to the fair. There will be extensive deployment of UP Police for security. 17 police stations, 42 posts, 20 fire tenders, 7 fire posts, wet watch tower, a water police station and control room will be established in the fair area. Police will also do 8 km deep water barricading. 400 AI based CCTV cameras are being installed from the control room to monitor the fair area, through which crowd density analysis, incident reporting and cleanliness monitoring will be done.
Tent city will be built on the lines of Mahakumbh
On the lines of Maha Kumbh, this time a tent city is being set up in Magh Mela also, where devotees will get living arrangements with modern facilities. The administration claims that this time the level of security, cleanliness and facilities in Magh Mela will be better than before.
