New Delhi, March 3: Bringing laurels to the nation, the Kumbh Mela 2019 in Prayagraj has managed to secure a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The grand religious event has been awarded for the largest crowd management, largest sanitation drive and largest painting exercise of public sites, the government informed on Sunday. The Ministry of Culture said in its statement that a three-member team from the Guinness World Records visited Prayagraj for the purpose. Kumbh Mela 2019 Pictures From Space. 

The officials informed that exercises at a large-scale were performed before the team for four days, from February 28 to March 3. The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, held in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad from January 15 on Makar Sakranti to March 4 this year.

The Kumbh Mela this year is spread over an area of 3,200 hectare as compared to 1,600 hectare area in the previous mela. "Around 503 shuttle buses were pressed into service on the highway in one go for the team on February 28. Several people participated in a painting exercise on March 1 and 10,000 workers engaged in cleaning at the Kumbh, all performing their duties together," the statement read. Mahashivratri 2019: Devotees Take Holy Dip in River Ganga on Last Shahi Snaan of Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. 

The mega event is all set to conclude with the sixth and final "Shahi Snan" (royal bath) on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. According to official data, the previous five royal baths were held successfully with more than 22 crore pilgrims taking holy dips. The Sangam, which is the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, is believed to witness the last dip of the Kumbh Mela on Mahashivratri on Monday. Kumbh Mela 2019 Sets New Record, 2.25 Crore Devotees Attend First ‘Shahi Snan’ in Prayagraj.

On February 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the holy dip at the Sangam - the holy confluence of sacred Ganga, Yamuna and mystical Sarawasti rivers - and prayed for peace and prosperity of the nation. Modi later also performed the 'Aarti' and interacted with the priests who conducted the puja.

The Kumbh draws lakhs of pilgrims over the course of approximately 55 auspicious days to bathe at the Sangam. Mahashivratri symbolises the last holy bath of the Kalpvasis and is directly related to Lord Shiva. As per the mythology, this day is awaited in the heavens as well as it was on this day that Lord Shiva got married, and hence is eagerly awaited by his followers, who worship him.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 04, 2019 10:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).