The 55-day long Maha Kumbh came to a close today with lakhs of devotees thronging the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati at Allahabad for a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri.

The sprawling landscape around the Sangam, dotted with numerous temples, was abuzz with activity since dawn as devotees came pouring in after the holy bath to offer prayers to Lord Shiva.

The Maha Kumbh, which commenced with the Makar Sankranti festival on January 14 saw millions of people from across the globe and various walks of life converging at the Sangam at Allahabad during the last 55 days.

Held at the Sangam every 12 years, this year's Maha Kumbh is likely to be remembered for the largest ever turnout of pilgrims for the Mauni Amavasya festival on February 10.

However, what was otherwise an occasion to rejoice, 38 people lost their lives in a stampede at the Allahabad Junction on that day.

AIR correspondent reports, with the bathing of Mahashivaratri the above 50 days long Maha Kumbh Mela completed formally. Although most of the saints and sears and Kalpwasee, devotees spending one month on the banks of Sangam have already left the Mela after Maghi Purnima bathing, however, large numbers of pilgrims had started reaching to the Mela from the last evening and bathing was started early in the morning and it continued till late evening.

About 11 bathing Ghats were developed for bathing on this occasion. Adequate security arrangements were made and security personnel were deployed at all sensitive points. Massive security arrangements were also made in and around at Kashi Vishwanath temple at Varanasi and temples at Mathura, Ayodhya and Chitrakoot.

A sea of devotees chanting Har Har Mahadev thronged various temples of lord Shiva to mark the occasion. The pious city of Varanasi spotted huge rush of devotees at Kashi Vishwanath temple one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of the country.