The snana at the Kumbh is a great leveller, writes PALLAVI DEMPO. All that remains visible is the universal quest for inner peace and harmony, the urge to shed negativities of the past karma, and the strengthening of bonds as faith draws millions of fellow human beings together in harmony
Since the 13th of January 2025, millions of devotees from across India, as well as from across the globe, have descended upon Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for the Maha Kumbh Mela — a mega assembly of devotees from across the globe, now touted as the biggest human congregation ever, and the world’s largest peaceful gathering of pilgrims.
The timing of the Kumbh mela is associated with a certain auspicious planetary configuration. Jupiter, the benevolent planet associated with wisdom, knowledge, expansion and progress, traverses the zodiac once in 12 years. Its revolution around the sun, and its position vis-à-vis the earth and other celestial bodies determines the timing of the Kumbh Mela. The Purna (complete) Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times during the 12 years cycle at the holy sites of Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain. The Ardha Kumbh occurs once every 6 years – the midpoint of the Purna Kumbh, and is celebrated alternately at Prayagraj and Haridwar. The Maha Kumbh occurs once every 144 years, i.e. upon completion of 12 cycles of Purna Kumbh, and is hence termed as once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
This once-in-a-lifetime occurrence also coincides with a rare astronomical alignment of the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter. This celestial alignment is believed to amplify the earth’s electromagnetic fields and activate the elements of air and water. This is a period when our sacred rivers are believed to be charged with divine vibrations and energy, with cosmic powers to cleanse our souls, shed our karmic burdens, and seek spiritual liberation.
The origin of the Kumbh is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. It is believed that Lord Vishnu, while fighting demons to protect the ‘amrit’ or nectar that had emerged out of the samudra manthan, spilled drops of the nectar at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain. These four centres subsequently emerged as the ‘Tirthas’ or holy pilgrimage sites for the devout Hindus.
Since the 13th of January, millions of devotees from across our nation, as well as from across the globe, have descended upon Prayagraj to take a dip in the holy waters at the Triveni Sangam – the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, in symbolic purification of the soul. By the time the 45-day spectacle concludes on the auspicious day of Mahashivratri on 26th February, 2025, it is estimated that a whopping 55 crore devotees would have visited the Sangam!
The Maha Kumbh 2025 has undoubtedly captured global interest and curiosity in an Indian spiritual event for the unprecedented response it has evoked from devotees cutting across all social, political, economic and even religious barriers.
As millions descended upon Prayagraj and as the media was abound with stunning images of the congregation, I was overcome by a deep sense of divine calling, an unexplained urge to rush to the Mela and bask in the divine and unique experience.
When my husband Shrinivas and I arrived in Prayagraj, I must concede that what we saw and felt at Prayagraj far exceeded our own expectations. The special energy at Prayagraj was unmistakable. The Sangam was a veritable sea of devotees. The confluence of the holy rivers itself was a sight to behold, with different shades of riverine waters of the Ganga and the Yamuna merging into a single mass at the Sangam. The sight of thousands of persons taking the Shahi Snana with complete devotion and faith in the Almighty, was a humbling experience.
The first question that came to our mind was how a relatively small city like Prayagraj could pull off an event of this magnitude and scale, with requisite infrastructure and logistics that had to be managed for this once-in-a-lifetime event. We were indeed impressed with the scale of the planning and the execution. The sprawling Mahakumbh Tent City on the banks of the Sangam was a marvel in itself. Replete with traditional charm and modern amenities, the City was the epicentre of all the religious activities during the Mela. The roads, the sanitation facilities, cleanliness and hygiene, the safety and security measures were top-notch. It was evident that the local administration had meticulously put together extensive and elaborate arrangements to host an estimated 50 crore devotees during the 45 day event. No pilgrim went without food or shelter; everyone contributed wholeheartedly in terms of seva at the event. Hundreds of service organizations offered free food service to the devotees in the true spirit of humanity, shedding all inhibitions and artificial social, religious and economic barriers.
We proceeded to the Sangam for the snana – the holy dip in the sacred waters, along with thousands of fellow pilgrims.
The snana at the Kumbh is a great leveller. Here, only the faith prevails. It transcends all social, political, cultural, economic, national and international barriers. As millions of devotees heed the call of mother Ganga and take a dip in her sacred waters, all that remains visible is the universal quest for inner peace and harmony, the urge to shed negativities of the past karma, and the strengthening of bonds as faith draws millions of fellow human beings together in harmony.
The Kumbh Mela is an ancient Indian tradition. It is believed that in the medieval era, especially under the dynasties of the Guptas and the Mauryas, the Kumbh Mela received royal support and emerged as a major event for spirituality and learning. By some accounts, king Harshvardhana (590-647 AD) played a significant role in institutionalizing the Kumbh Mela. It is widely believed that his acts of charity and religious patronage laid the foundations of large scale religious gatherings at Prayagraj.
Over a period of time, the Kumbh Mela attracted a large number of saints and devotees from various sects, leading to the establishment of akharas (spiritual and religious orders) that till date continue to play a defining role in the religious landscape of India. The akharas are known to be centres of learning, meditation and enlightening discourses by the sadhus and sants. These akharas have played a stellar role in the preservation of ancient Indian religious practices.
The overarching presence of the akharas and their traditional rituals add to the vibrant tapestry at the Kumbh Mela, and a visit to the akharas is a considered a must-do at the event. Of the 13 akharas at Prayagraj, we could visit two – the Kinnar akhara and the Juna akhara. The Juna akhara, established in the 7th century by Adi Shankaracharya, is one of the oldest and the most respected religious orders, and is believed to have played a pivotal role in the propagation of the teachings of the Vedas and the Upanishads. The Juna akhara attracts the most sadhus and sants, and forms a vibrant community of sadhus, scholars and devotees.
At Juna akhara we were fortunate to listen to Swami Avdheshanand Giri, the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of Juna akhara, who provided a mesmerising account of the origin, the history and the tradition associated with the Kumbh Mela. The visit to the akharas indeed elevated our Kumbh experience.
The Maha Kumbh is a wonderful showcase of India’s tradition and culture, drawing millions of people driven purely by faith and tradition. It is a matter of great pride that in 2017, Kumbh Mela was included in UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The imagery and the divinity at the Maha Kumbh Mela is to be experienced and lived in person. Any attempt to write about the event and the spiritual experience will invariably fall short of words. The stills captured by the camera can at best be a pictorial account of the event; however, nothing can match the overwhelming experience one feels on an occasion such as the Maha Kumbh Mela unless you are present there in person and experience a deep spiritual rejuvenation.
We consider ourselves abundantly blessed and privileged that we could partake in this once-in-a-lifetime event.
