Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: World's Largest Religious Gathering Begins

PM Modi participated in a Lohri celebration event organised in Naraina Vihar. 

West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant says, "An unfortunate incident has occurred at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital. A pregnant woman has died, four more are ill, three of whom are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. It appears that serious negligence has occurred there. Trainee doctors were involved in the operation, which should not have been the case. Senior doctors should have been present. The banned saline solution that was used should not have been used. The Chief Minister held a meeting with the health department officials today. She has clearly stated that no one involved will be spared. A CID Investigation has been ordered. No one involved will be spared. The role of senior doctors is also being investigated. The children's physical condition is stable at the moment. We are monitoring them continuously"

On the statement of Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal says, "The leaders (Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal) fought the Lok Sabha elections together and opposed PM Modi. Sometimes they fight the elections together and sometimes they oppose it...BJP is forming the government in Delhi...The people of Delhi have made up their minds to form the government of BJP in Delhi..."

Congress candidate from New Delhi seat, Sandeep Dikshit says, "Aam Aadmi Party was spreading the rumour that we are with BJP. BJP used to spread the rumour that we are not attacking AAP. Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that if anyone is standing with the people, it is Congress party..."

Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav says, "Today, whether it is the issue of pollution or the smallest issue of not having clean roads, Rahul Gandhi has raised them strongly. You saw Arvind Kejriwal's work, he made false promises. The situation on the ground is just the opposite. Rahul Gandhi has taken this concern into his mind. The way people reached here, they have assured us that in the coming time, I have full confidence that a strong Congress government will be formed..."

National Testing Agency (NTA) postpones the UGC-NET December 2024 Exam scheduled on 15th January 2025 after receiving representations to postpone the UGC NET December 2024 examination on account of Pongal, Makar Sankranti and other festivals on 15th January 2025. The New date of exam will announce later. Examination scheduled on 16th January 2025 will be conducted as per earlier schedule.

Addressing a public rally in Seelampur, Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "Do you remember that Delhi when Sheila Dikshit was the chief minister of the national capital? ... Arvind Kejriwal had said he will clean Delhi, make it corruption-free. There is so much pollution in Delhi... Did Arvind Kejriwal make Delhi corruption-free? Arvind Kejriwal campaigns in the same way as PM Modi does and makes false promises to the people." 

Union Minister JP Nadda attends 'Pongal', 'Makar Sankranti' & 'Lohri' celebration at Union Minister G Kishan Reddy's residence

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi says, "...We want seats to be given to Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) to contest the Delhi Assembly elections... Seats should be given to the party to encourage the workers of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)..."

On Delhi High Court criticising the Delhi Government for its delay in addressing the CAG reports, BJP candidate from Malviya Nagar Assembly constituency, Satish Upadhyay says, "...The AAP government never takes any decision following the law. There is nothing like governance in the Delhi government..."

He further says, "AAP leaders conspire a lot and the police have issued notices to AAP MLAs who are making fake certificates for Rohingyas. They have no right to accuse the BJP of anything..."

PM Modi tweets, "Congratulations to the people of Odisha! It was indeed a travesty that my sisters and brothers of Odisha were denied the benefits of Ayushman Bharat by the previous Government. This scheme will ensure the highest-quality healthcare at affordable rates. It will particularly benefit the Nari Shakti and the elderly of Odisha."

SFI and DYPI stage protest in Kolkata over expired saline death case in Midnapore.

On the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel, Congress leader Ravinder Sharma says, "...The Z-Morh tunnel is a very strategic all-weather tunnel. The foundation stone of the tunnel was laid by the UPA government...All the tunnels and railway projects in the J&K were sanctioned by the UPA governments..."

On Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah's statement on PM Modi, he says, "There is a certain dignity that has to be maintained between the state government and central government. But some things were out of context, it would have been good if he had remembered what was done by the UPA government under former PM Manmohan Singh. The mandate that we have received in J&K is against the policies of BJP...The people have rejected them...There are a lot of questions on the fairness of elections in J&K..."

BJP leader Ravinder Raina says, "The Chief Minister of J&K welcomed PM Modi wholeheartedly. J&K is touching new heights of development under the leadership of PM Modi...The Chief Minister of J&K also praised PM Modi as he inaugurated the Z-Morh tunnel...The people of J&K thank PM Modi for restoring peace...PM Modi does what he says..."

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "The whole day today, we had meetings about strengthening the party. We had meetings with almost all leaders in Karnataka. We discussed about Gandhi Bharat event, supposed to be held in Belagavi, on the occasion of the 100th year of AICC under the then presidentship of Mahatma Gandhi. It will be held on the 21st of this month."

On Bangladesh infiltrator issue, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says, "The central government should have been alert from much before. Why did it take so long? They are doing politics and blaming the state government... There is a problem in Tripura and Assam too. The central government should communicate with the Bangladesh government and solve the problem. They are doing nothing... This is the failure of the central government... This is an international issue. The Bengal government has nothing to do with it..."

 Former Congress leader Surender Balhara joins AAP in the presence of AAP MP Sanjay Singh.

On BJD remarks on former Governor Raghubar Das, BJP leader Satyabrata Panda says, "It is very unfortunate on the part of BJD and particularly leader of BJD, Arun Sahoo who represented a constituency in Odisha Legislative Assembly and was a Cabinet Minister in the recently rejected government. Governors are not there to execute developmental works, but he is there as the constitutional head of the state... Mr. Sahoo can better answer how ceremoniously they have been driven out of power... We think that Mr. Sahoo had become too great a pandit that he was involved in a lot of crimes and controversies and no law went his way and nabbed him for his crimes... Arun Sahoo should restrain himself from passing such derogatory remarks for a governor's post..."

A large number of devotees arrive at Sangam to take a holy dip and participate in MahaKumbhMela 2025.

Up till 3 pm today, around 1 crore devotees took a holy dip in the Sangam area.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "...The government should protect our borders, soldiers and people of the nation living along the borders...There are a lot of poor people living in Bangladesh and they come to India to spread their communal radical agenda...There is an extremist government in Bangladesh..." 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, Manoj Kumar Singh says, "The snan on Makar Sankranti will be bigger than today's snan. For one and a half years, the state government was preparing for this in collaboration with the fair administration. Works worth about Rs 7 thousand crores have been done in Prayagraj city and the Mela area which is on 4,000 hectares. We intended that whatever better facilities are available for the tourists and devotees, should be provided to them. All the preparations for the Maha Kumbh have been completed by the government and I hope that the devotees and tourists coming will have a very good experience of this Maha Kumbh..."

Educator and YouTuber, Khan Sir says, "...Some people have been planted into the BPSC which are deliberately maligning the image of the state government. The BPSC chairman should be removed..."

Bus accident on tirumala ghat road. Some of the devotees suffered minor injuries in the bus accident.

The injured have been shifted to local hospital.

Efforts are being made to remove the bus from the ghat road.

More than 250 individuals, who were separated from their families in the dense crowd in the early hours of the first day of Maha Kumbh 2025, were reunited through efficient measures by the fair administration, officials said.

On CAG reports, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says, "There are as many as 14 CAG reports on issues ranging from finance, public health, liquor, etc... The High Court today said that the CAG reports were to be sent to the Speaker and there should have been a discussion. The delay in submitting the reports raises doubts... If someone does a scam, there will be an impact on the elections..."
 

On the film 'Jungle Satyagraha', Congress MP Digvijaya Singh says, "Jungle Satyagraha is a Satyagraha of Madhya Pradesh where the British were taking away the rights of the tribals. A large number of youth and women did Satyagraha against it and it is very important to tell the youth about it"

On CM Mohan Yadav's statement regarding liquor ban in religious cities, he says, "It is very good. They should talk to the Liquor contractors"

NSG commandos patrol to ensure the safety and security of devotees as MahaKumbh 2025 begins on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima, today.

 The CBI on Monday informed a Delhi court that it had obtained requisite sanctions to prosecute AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in a disproportionate assets' case.

The central probe agency made the submission before special judge Jitendra Singh, who posted the hearing on January 22.

The judge observed a supplementary chargesheet was filed against Jain in the case on January 4.

 Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Monday urged the youth of India to never ever give up in their journey of life, underlining that "a bend in a road is not the end of the road".

Addressing a gathering of cadets and officers during his visit to the ongoing National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp at Delhi Cantonment, he also said the country's youth will contribute towards reaching the goal of becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 and they will also be the largest beneficiary of it.

General Chauhan said January is a month of festivities and tomorrow is Veterans' Day followed by the Army Day on January 15.

The BJP Monday asked AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal if he considers himself above the Constitution as it attacked him over the Delhi government not tabling the CAG reports in the assembly.

BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the constitutional scheme requires a government to table reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which scrutinises its revenue and expenses, but the AAP dispensation has not done it.

Kashmir is the crown of the country, and I want this crown to become even more beautiful. For this, I need the support of the youth, sisters, and elderly citizens. “Jammu and Kashmir to be the capital of winter games,” said PM Modi.

Sonamarg, J&K: PM Narendra Modi says, "Today, India is moving towards new heights of progress. Every citizen is working towards making India a developed nation by 2047. This can only happen if no part of our country, no family is left behind in terms of progress and development. To ensure this, our government is working day and night with the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'..."

PM Modi’s leadership brings Jammu & Kashmir closer with the Sonamarg Tunnel, a landmark project for defence and tourism.

Sonamarg: On the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "First of all, I would like to thank all the brothers who worked in the most difficult circumstances, risking their lives, for the progress of the country and Jammu and Kashmir. Also, 7 of our labour colleagues lost their lives but completed this task by overcoming all challenges. Today, I would like to remember the 7 colleagues we have lost their lives."

The Prime Minister expresses his delight at being among the wonderful people of Sonamarg. With the opening of the tunnel here, connectivity will significantly improve, and tourism will see a major boost in Jammu and Kashmir.

This 12 km long Sonmarg Tunnel Project, constructed at a cost of ₹2,700 crore, has reduced travel time from 1 hour to 15 minutes and will benefit people there.

PM modi inaugurated the Sonmarg Tunnel Project in Jammu Kashmir today. The 12 km long Sonmarg Tunnel Project, constructed at a cost of ₹2,700 crore, has reduced travel time from 1 hour to 15 minutes.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "The Mahakumbh has begun. I congratulate all devotees, pilgrims, and the saints. Everyone should take part in the holy 'snaan' during the Mahakumbh and get rid of all sins... As the sun enters the Northern Hemisphere, I congratulate all those celebrating, Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Uttarayani, Pongal, Bihu..."
 

A 51-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram is nearing completion in Chaudasi, a town in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, and is likely to be unveiled by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in February, officials said.

The statue, being built at Ram Bagh Dham's Ramlila Ground, will feature the Hindu god holding a bow in one hand and blessing devotees with the other.

Ram Bagh Dham Trust president Ashok Kumar Fancy said the statue's construction began on May 31, 2023, and is now in its final stages.

"The statue is almost complete, with only the painting work left. It is expected to be ready by February 2025," he said.

CM Omar Abdullah credits PM Modi for holding successful, free and fair polls in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met the public at the Gorakhnath temple here during 'Janta Darshan' on Monday and asked officials to resolve their grievances promptly and sensitively to prevent undue hardship for them.

Emphasising the need for timely financial support for medical treatment, the chief minister instructed the officials to expedite the process of obtaining hospital estimates for those seeking government assistance and ensure that they are promptly submitted for approval, according to an official statement.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday condoled the loss of lives in a road accident in Nashik district and announced an assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased.

Eight persons were killed and several others injured on Sunday evening after a tempo and a truck collided at Dwarka Circle in Nashik, according to police.

A Pakistani national was caught by the Border Security Force (BSF) while trying to sneak into India through the land border in Gujarat’s Kutch district, an official said on Monday.

The man from the neighbouring country was trying to cross the border from an area north of Harami Nala on Sunday, the BSF said in a release.

Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, accused in several cases arising out of the February 2020 riots, can file his nomination papers from jail itself, the Delhi High Court was told on Monday.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, while responding on behalf of the police to Hussain's plea seeking interim bail in a riots-related murder case, said there were instances when inmates completed the process of filing nomination for elections from prison.

"Latest precedent is of Amrtipal Singh," the law officer said.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna also orally observed that Hussain could file nomination papers while sitting in jail.

 Forest officials in West Bengal are on their toes again after a tiger crossed into Jhargram district from the neighbouring Jharkhand a day ago, a senior forest official said Monday.

The fresh pug marks have been spotted around two weeks after a tigress from Odisha was captured in Bankura. The tigress had strayed into West Bengal from Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Z-Morh tunnel in J-K's Sonamarg. LIVE

The contractual employees of a private operator hired by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking went on a flash strike at one of the depots in Mumbai early Monday morning, partially affecting the BEST bus services.

While BEST did not disclose the reason for the strike, sources said it was triggered by the alleged mistreatment of a pregnant woman conductor by officials of the private operator.

A BEST official said the services were affected on a few routes as the strike was limited to the Pratiksha Nagar depot, while a union leader claimed more than 100 buses of the private operator remained off the road.

There was no let-up in cold weather conditions in Punjab and Haryana on Monday with Amritsar recording the lowest minimum temperature of 4.7 degrees Celsius.

Among other places in Punjab, Ludhiana recorded a minimum temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius, according to a meteorological department report.

Faridkot recorded a low of 5.3 degrees Celsius, Pathankot 5.6 degrees Celsius, Gurdaspur 6.5 degrees Celsius, Bathinda 6.8 degrees Celsius and Patiala 7.6 degrees Celsius.

In Haryana, the mercury settled at a low of 8.8 degrees Celsius.

Minimum temperatures dropped across Kashmir as the skies cleared up with Pahalgam being the coldest place in the valley at minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, the meteorological department said on Monday.

The valley is likely to witness mainly dry weather over the next few days, it said.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, down from the previous night's minus 3 degrees Celsius, according to the meteorological department.

North Kashmir's tourist resort of Gulmarg, known for skiing, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night's minus 5.6 degrees Celsius.

 Two students were injured after a portion of a glass panel on the fourth floor of a school building collapsed in South Kolkata on Monday morning, officials said.

The school authorities said one of the injured students was discharged after being administered first aid, while another has been sent to a private hospital.

The incident happened around 7 am as the students were entering the school premises when a large glass panel along with its frame fell from the fourth floor, injuring the two students, the officials said.

A section of parents, however, claimed that two students suffered serious injuries and another received first aid before being discharged.

They also alleged that no ambulance was available to take the injured to hospital.

A 10-year-old girl was injured when a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said on Monday.

The incident took place on Sunday evening on the outskirts of Timmapuram village under Chintalnar police station area, a senior police official said.

As per preliminary information, the girl inadvertently stepped over the pressure IED, triggering the blast, he said.

The girl suffered injuries and was shifted to a hospital, the official said, adding her condition was reported to be stable.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch "Mission Mausam", which aims to make the country a "weather-ready" and "climate-smart" nation, here on Tuesday as part of the events marking the 150th foundation day of the India Meteorological Department.

He will also release the IMD Vision-2047 document for weather resilience and climate change adaptation. It includes plans for weather forecasting, weather management and climate change mitigation, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

One more child in Puducherry tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and is undergoing treatment in the centrally administered JIPMER here, a top official said.

Director of Health for Puducherry, V Ravichandran, in a release on late Sunday said that the girl child complained of fever, cough and running nose. She was admitted in JIPMER a few days ago and has been under treatment.

He said that the child was recovering well and all precautionary measures had been taken.

A thick blanket of fog could not blur their vision, the cold breeze failed to reduce their energy levels and the bone-chilling water of river Ganga in Sangam area could not dampen their excitement, as lakhs of devotees from different walks of life took the holy dip on the occasion of 'Paush Purnima' on Monday.

The Maha Kumbh 2025 commenced here amid chants of bhajans and slogans.

The excitement was clearly visible in the Sangam area as the pilgrims and devotees --- mostly in groups --- walked towards river Ganga and took a holy dip chanting 'Jai Ganga Maiyya'.

"Till 9.30 am, around 60 lakh pilgrims had taken dip," the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement.

The state government also said that a large number of devotees from India and abroad were seen at the Sangam Ghat.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his greetings on the occasion of 'Paush Purnima'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate on Monday the 6.5 km long Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir that will make the Sonamarg tourist resort accessible throughout the year.

The prime minister landed at the Srinagar airport at around 10.45 am and is on way to Sonamarg for the inauguration of the strategic tunnel that is important from the defence perspective as well, officials said.

Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari reached Srinagar on Sunday for the function.

Modi will also be joined for the inauguration ceremony by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Two Myanmar nationals were arrested in south Mizoram's Siaha district while allegedly attempting to smuggle foreign currency notes worth around 1.48 crore, the Assam Rifles said in a statement.

The duo was apprehended on Friday after the Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police launched a joint operation, following intelligence reports regarding cross-border smuggling activities, it said.

Two mobile phones and a motorcycle were also seized from their possession, the statement said.

A student of IIT-Kharagpur was found dead inside his hostel room, an institute official said on Monday.

Shaon Malik, a third-year student of Electrical Engineering, was found hanging inside the room by his parents who had come to meet him on Sunday.

His parents and institute personnel had to forcibly open the door of the hostel room after he did not respond to repeated calls, the official said.

Malik had spoken to his parents over phone the previous night and “things seemed perfectly normal”, according to the official.

A man hailing from Maharashtra's Thane city and currently residing in the US, has been cheated of nearly Rs 1 lakh by fraudsters posing as officials of a piped cooking gas supply company, police said on Monday.

The victim, who has a house in Thane and is currently employed in New Jersey, received calls from two different numbers on his phone on December 20, 2024.

Maha Kumbh Mela DIG Vaibhav Krishna says, "Around 50 lakh people have taken a holy dip so far. Official figures will be released soon. All the arrangements have been taken care of. Crowd regulation is going on. We have enough space for the parking of vehicles. Central and State police forces are deployed here and we are ready to tackle any kind of situation..."

A 7-year-old girl has been mauled to death by a leopard in Gujarat's Amreli district, prompting authorities to set up cage traps in the area to catch the big cat, officials said on Monday.

The leopard attacked the girl while she was accompanying her parents working at a cotton field in Chitrasar village on Sunday evening, Range Forest Officer, Rajula, GL Vaghela said.

The girl suffered serious injuries on her neck and died after being taken to a hospital at Jafrabad in the district, the official said.

A BSF jawan sustained injuries when his service rifle went off accidentally during routine patrolling in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.

Constable Manish Meghwal was hit by the bullet at Old Town Baramulla, the officials said.

The injured jawan was rushed to a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable, they said.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday extended greetings on Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Magha Bihu and Pongal.

These festivals, each uniquely celebrated across India's diverse landscapes, represent its age-old tradition of honouring the harvest season, he said.

A senior woman Naxalite, carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on her head, and her associate have been arrested from Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, a police official said on Monday.

Malti alias Raje (48), a divisional committee member of Maoists, and Shyamnath Usendi, who had given her shelter in his house, were arrested on Saturday from Koyalibeda police station area, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said.

Raje's husband was apprehended last year, he said, terming the couple's arrest as a crucial development in the anti-Naxal operation in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday extended his greetings on the commencement of Maha Kumbh, which he described as a confluence of cultures and a message of unity in diversity.

Earlier on Monday, that marked Paush Purnima, Maha Kumbh started on the banks of Sangam - the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, with around 40 lakh pilgrims taking a dip in the initial hours of the day.

"Greetings on Paush Purnima. The world's largest spiritual and cultural gathering 'Mahakumbh' is starting from today in the holy city of Prayagraj," Adityanath posted on X.

As Maha Kumbh began in the holy city of Prayagraj on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a very special day for those who cherish Indian values and culture, saying the massive religious event embodies India's timeless spiritual heritage.

"A very special day for crores of people who cherish Bharatiya values and culture! Maha Kumbh 2025 commences in Prayagraj, bringing together countless people in a sacred confluence of faith, devotion and culture. The Maha Kumbh embodies India’s timeless spiritual heritage and celebrates faith and harmony," he said on X.

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: By 7.30 am today, 35 lakh people have taken a holy dip in Triveni Sangam: Uttar Pradesh Government.

As cold waves grip the national capital, some flights are delayed at IGI Airport due to fog. 

The Maha Kumbh Mela commenced at Sangam --- the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers --- on Tuesday with more than 40 lakh people from different walks of life taking the first holy dip.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the Maha Kumbh to be held from January 13 to February 26 will elevate India's ancient cultural and religious traditions to global prominence.

The Chairperson of the Karnataka Legislative Council, Basavaraja S Horatti, has taken exception to the CID probing the episode involving BJP MLC C T Ravi allegedly using foul words against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar inside the council in Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on December 19 last year.

In a letter to state Home Minister G Parameshwara on January 10, Horatti underlined that he has already given his verdict on the episode, which is final.

The letter was shared with the media on Sunday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three more persons in the alleged Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment scam, a lawyer representing two of them said.

Sahil Sonwani has been nabbed from Darjeeling in West Bengal, while Shashank Goyal and his wife Bhumika Katiyar have been apprehended from New Delhi, the couple's lawyer, Faisal Rizvi, said on Sunday.

"The three were brought to Chhattisgarh on Sunday. The court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Kriti Kujur remanded them in the CBI's custody till January 13," Rizvi said.

Ayodhya: Devotees continue to arrive for the grand three-day celebrations of the first anniversary of Pran Pratishtha at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

PM Modi to Inaugurate Z-Morh Tunnel, Jammu Kashmir at 12:15 PM today. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conducted a comprehensive review of the arrangements at the project site in Sonamarg.

Uttar Pradesh police built a special floating police chowki to help devotees as the 45-day Mahakumbh2025 begins with the auspicious PaushPurnima.

An aarti was performed at the Sangam in Prayagraj to offer prayers for the peace of the souls who lost their lives in the devastating earthquakes that struck Tibet and Nepal on January 7.

President of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, Swami Chidanand Saraswati said that he prayed for the people who died and lost their houses in the earthquakes that struck.

"Today, I prayed on the bank of Sangam - for those people who suffered as many houses were destroyed and lives were lost in Tibet and Nepal due to a disastrous tragedy (earthquake).

As Sant Morari Bapu has said, we all should help those 126 affected families - and we will be sending some financial help to all of them through ITBP.

Those amounts and the money are just a symbol, a token - as India believes in 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. All of India is with them. The relation between India, China and Tibet continues to flourish and we continue to peacefully co-exist - today's aarti was dedicated to that cause as well..,"Swami Chidanand Saraswati told ANI.

Under the leadership of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Mahakumbh 2025 is all set to offer new and exciting experiences to the visitors.

One of the main highlights of the 45-day grand event is the helicopter ride, which would cost just Rs 1,296 per person, which has been significantly reduced from the earlier fare of Rs 3,000.

Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh mentioned that the seven to eight-minute helicopter ride would begin today with a digital launch.

Tourists and devotees would get an unparalleled aerial view of the grand Mahakumbh area, soaring above Prayagraj's majestic landscape.

Prayagraj witnessed a large gathering of devotees at Triveni Sangam as Maha Kumbh commenced with the 'Shahi Snan' on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima on Monday.
A large number of devotees are arriving at the bank of Triveni Sangam - a scared confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and 'mystical' Saraswati. Devotees took a holy dip and performed the sacred ritual on this auspicious occasion.

A devotee Vijay Kumar said, "... The arrangements here are very good. There is an arrangement for everything - for food and accommodation... the roads are also good."
"We go to Kumbh Mela wherever it is organised. I live in a small temple - I go to every pilgrim in India...," another devotee said.