Overview
- More than 4.52 crore devotees took the Mauni Amavasya dip at Prayagraj’s Magh Mela, according to mela officials.
- Police said Swami Avimukteshwaranand tried to reach the ghat with 200–250 followers without permission after a barricade was broken near Bridge Number 2.
- A confrontation ensued as officers halted the palanquin, some supporters were taken to a police post, and the seer returned without bathing before beginning a dharna.
- The Shankaracharya said he would not take a dip until he is escorted with due respect, while Akhilesh Yadav shared video of the stoppage and demanded an inquiry.
- On Monday, Uttar Pradesh ministers defended the action as a crowd‑safety step under no‑vehicle protocols, and officials highlighted extensive management measures as the state issued no separate statement beyond police and mela administration accounts.