PRAYAGRAJ, Jan 23: The world-renowned Maha Kumbha Mela is taking place at Prayagraj, where the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers meet. The Department of Uttar Pradesh State Tourism, India, reported that over 10 million people bathed in the sacred rivers on the first day of the Kumbha Mela, held every 12 years in Prayagraj, India.
The Maha Kumbha Mela, which started on January 14, will continue for 45 days. Hindu devotees bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, regarded as the holiest rivers in India, during this festival. The Department of Uttar Pradesh State Tourism expects 450 million pilgrims to participate in the event. Millions of pilgrims from India, Nepal, and other countries visit the sacred land of Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbha bath.
Esha Priya, the director general of Uttar Pradesh tourism department, emphasized the special significance of the Maha Kumbha Mela, which occurs once every 144 years, and urged everyone to experience the extraordinary joy of Prayagraj Maha Kumbha. She expressed confidence that the Maha Kumbha Mela would play a vital role in promoting cross-border religious tourism.
The fair's vibrance
Necessary security arrangements have been made for the pilgrims coming to bathe at the fair. In anticipation of the event, the Indian government has deployed over 25,000 security personnel. To enhance the fair's appeal, informational banners, posters, and twinkling lights have been installed at every intersection of the Allahabad roads. On both sides of the confluence of the three rivers, temporary 'tent houses' with varying levels of facilities have been constructed to accommodate the pilgrims. At night, the twinkling lights around the tent house areas further enhance the vibrancy of the fair.
The organizers have set up temporary camps and health camps to manage accommodation at the fair. They have set up more than 100,000 tents. The fair features unique attractions such as the Naga Babas and Aghori Babas. To ensure security, authorities have installed over 25,000 CCTV cameras underwater. According to Indian media, to facilitate the pilgrims arriving at the fair, they have arranged more than 7,000 buses from the Prayagraj airport. Additionally, they have arranged 550 shuttle buses, over 13,000 rickshaws, 13,000 trains, and 3,000 special trains.
Similarly, the fair area has set up 43 temporary hospitals and arranged 6,000 beds, both government and private. Ambulances, including air ambulances, are in place, and provisions for helicopter tours of the fair have also been made.
Over 200,000 devotees throng Maha Kumbha Mela at Barahakshetra
Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also expected to visit the Maha Kumbha Mela.
Over 100 million bathe at Maha Kumbha
Indian news agencies report that over 100 million people have bathed at the Maha Kumbha Mela so far. Around one million devotees arrive daily at the fair, and even on the 10th day of the event, a large crowd of pilgrims remains.
Devotees believe that bathing at the confluence of the holy rivers cleanses sins and purifies the soul. The crowd of participants is so large that it can be seen from space. Indian media also report that between 10 and 15 million pilgrims bathe in the Ganges each day.
Astrologers have set the dates and auspicious times for bathing based on specific planets and constellations. They have determined that five days, excluding Monday, are auspicious for bathing. The Kumbha Mela is a major Hindu bathing festival. Although scriptures mention that the festival can be held at 12 locations on Earth, only five have been identified so far. Four of these locations are in India, where the festival is held every three years, and one Kumbha site is in Nepal. The Kumbha Mela venues are Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Nasik (Maharashtra), Haridwar (Uttarakhand), and Chataradham (Barahkshetra, Sunsari, Nepal).
What is the Maha Kumbha Mela?
The Kumbha Mela takes place at a single location every 12 years. The Hindu scriptures mention the Kumbha Mela. Religious texts believe that anyone who bathes in the Kumbha will be freed from all sins and will attain virtue. The Maha Kumbha Yoga occurs when the Sun and Moon align in the same zodiac sign, Jupiter is in the Taurus sign, and the Kumbha Sankranti falls between the New Moon and Shri Panchami. This is called the Maha Kumbha.
The Kumbha Mela was traditionally held at three places in India, but since 2059 BS, it has also been held at Chataradham in Sunsari District, Nepal.
'Digital' Maha Kumbha
India's Ministry of Culture has utilized modern technology extensively in the Maha Kumbha Mela. The Prayagraj Maha Kumbha blends spirituality and innovation in an extraordinary way. By embracing modern technology, Maha Kumbha 2025 provides high-tech security measures, digital land 'allocations,' and 'immersive virtual' reality experiences. It serves as a model for blending tradition and technology, offering comprehensive infrastructure, security, and digital services. Authorities have also implemented special cybersecurity arrangements to ensure the safety of devotees.
Cyber security
The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to utilize every platform, including print, digital, and social media. Authorities are investigating gangs exploiting platforms like AI, Facebook, X, and Instagram. The government has also deployed a mobile cyber team for an extensive public awareness campaign.
Akash Deep, the additional strategic officer of the Department of Uttar Pradesh State Tourism, said that the Prayagraj Maha Kumbha has set a historical record and emphasized its role in boosting religious tourism. Santosh Kumar Singh, president of the VaranasiTourism Guild, invited Hindu Nepali tourists to join the Kumbha Mela. Kaushalendra Singh, general secretary of the Agra Travel Agents Association, stated that the Maha Kumbha Mela will help promote regional religious tourism.
On Makar Sankranti, the first day of the Maha Kumbha Mela, the Mahamandaleshwar tradition of royal bathing takes place. Similarly, royal bathing is observed on Shri Panchami, Shivaratri, and Full Moon days. Organizers have noted that pilgrims may experience some inconvenience during these royal bathing times. On other days, organizers have ensured the construction of various ghats for pilgrims to bathe comfortably. Motorboats and boats are also readily available to reach the ghats.
The Maha Kumbha Mela has an ancient history. Some scriptures state that the first Maha Kumbha Mela took place during the Satya Yuga, initiated by Shankaracharya. Experts believe that the tradition of Kumbha dates back thousands of years.
A significant number of pilgrims from Nepal also participate in the Maha Kumbha Mela. Nepali people often travel in groups with friends and family to Prayagraj for the sacred bath. During the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), the gods and demons fought to obtain the nectar of immortality. In this battle, Lord Indra’s son, Jayanta, fled with the pot of nectar, and the demons pursued him to seize it. This resulted in a fierce battle between the gods and demons. As Jayanta fled with the pot, a few drops of nectar fell at four places, which are now the sites of the Maha Kumbha Mela. Since then, Kumbh Mela has been held every 12 years in Prayagraj, Ujjain, Nashik, and Haridwar.
