GUWAHATI: After 45 days of spiritual fervour, Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh, which welcomed over 64 crore devotees, is drawing to a close. With the conclusion of the Maha Shivratri snan on Wednesday, February 26 the sacred chants and prayers that echoed through the city will gradually fade, and the temporary settlements along the Triveni Sangam will be dismantled as Prayagraj returns to its daily life.
The final farewell will take place at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, where Naga sadhus, the ash-clad ascetics will offer their concluding prayers. Their pilgrimage, which began at the confluence of the Sangam, will culminate in the city revered as the abode of Lord Shiva. Mahant Prem Giri, president of Juna Akhara, expressed the deep spiritual significance of this moment, saying, "We will bow before Kashi Vishwanath in all its magnificence."
As the Shaiv Akharas embark on their final procession, chariots mounted on tractor trolleys will make their way through the streets, resonating with the chants of “Har Har Mahadev.” Some ascetics will remain in Varanasi to oversee internal matters and prepare for the upcoming akhara elections, while others will retreat to their remote hermitages, awaiting the next grand congregation at Trimbakeshwar for the Nashik Kumbh in 2027.
Meanwhile, the next Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj is set for 2031, a sacred date etched into the spiritual calendar
