Four hundred million pilgrims are expected to take a holy dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers in Prayagraj, north India, during the six weeks of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, which starts on January 13.
Kumbh melas go back in antiquity and occur every three years by rotation in four cities – Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. They are the largest gathering of humanity anywhere in the world. The Maha Kumbh 2025 is exceptional, and a bigger crowd-puller as the ordained astrological alignment of planets and stars happens once in 144 years.

Contingents of sadhus (Hindu monks) have already started arriving in colorful processions on horses and camels. Sadhus, many dreadlocked and others wearing only ashes, pilgrims and devotees from all parts of India and abroad will take a sacred plunge in Triveni Sangam—the meeting point of the three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati—to make Maha Kumbh 2025 a spectacle.

The origins of the Kumbh Mela are rooted in Hindu mythology. Samudra Manthan, or the churning of the ocean, led to the fight between gods and demons for the nectar of immortality that emerged. Lord Vishnu, carrying the pot of that nectar, dropped some at four locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. These locations became revered as sacred sites eligible to hold the Kumbh Mela. Kumbh means a sacred pot or pitcher. Mela is a fair or festival. Maha means big or grand.
There are six key bathing dates for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, of which three—Makar Sankranti (January 14), Mauni Amavasya (January 29), and Basant Panchami (February 3)—are more auspicious and expected to attract 60-80 million people each. These three dates are designated as Shahi Snan (royal baths) for the monastics. Only after they take their dip do commoners get their turn.

The Uttar Pradesh state government, whose chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, is a monk-turned-politician, has completed plans to host a confluence of humanity larger than the population of America.
The most ancient Indian religious festival has employed the most modern technology. Artificial intelligence and RFID wristbands will control crowds and reunite families (many old Bollywood movies open with siblings getting separated at a Kumbh Mela). Drones provide aerial surveillance, and drone and laser shows are part of the attractions.

A sprawling tent city—many times bigger than the encampments at the annual Burning Man festival in the desert of Nevada—has emerged adjacent to Prayagraj. Tents are available for every pocket. At the high end, a tent for two with a butler, room heater, washroom, and geyser is available for Rs 1 lakh (approx. $1,160) a day.
The Maha Kumbh has a total area of 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres). 30 pontoon bridges have been built over the river waters to facilitate movement.
To accommodate the massive influx of visitors, 13,000 trains, of which 3,000 are special trains, will connect Prayagraj with major Indian metros. New direct flights from some cities have also been introduced for the Kumbh dates.
Believers in Sanatana Dharma, or Hinduism, will naturally form most of those visiting the Maha Kumbh. For them it is a sacred duty. However, the organizers have invited lawmakers and dignitaries from all states and even diplomats to visit. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath personally went to New Delhi to invite India’s President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

One visitor who made headlines in India is Apple heiress and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs. She plans to stay for a couple of weeks at the Kumbh this month and take part in the rituals, according to her guru Swami Kailashananda Giri, head of the Niranjani Akhara monastery.
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is both a spiritual gathering and a grand cultural extravaganza that brings together India’s ancient traditions with contemporary artistic expressions. The specially constructed 10,000-seat Ganga Pandal will host a breathtaking lineup of folk and classical art performances. Billed artists include Hema Malini, a celebrated actress, dancer, and Member of Parliament; Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej; and singers Shreya Ghoshal and Kailash Kher.
Maha Kumbh is a showcase for India, which has leapfrogged many countries in some fields such as digitization, to introduce its glorious culture in its divine, grand, and modern form to the world.
Resource: Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 will be assisted by “Mahakumbh Mela 2025 app” which has important locations of ghats, temples, and other major religious sites for the support of tourists and pilgrims. Website: kumbh.gov.in
This Kumbh article was first published on Patheos.com
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3 comments
India is a Hindu majority nation. Luckily it is led by a PM who proudly follows Sanatana Dharma unlike some leaders earlier who professed to be secular and pandered to minorities, and harmed Hindu values and thought.
Kumbh Mela is a grand symphony of devotion where each soul plays its unique melody.
In the embrace of the divine rivers, spirits find renewal and hearts find solace.