GUWAHATI: The world’s largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela, commenced on Monday as millions of Hindu devotees flocked to the banks of the Ganges in Prayagraj, India, to mark the start of this sacred pilgrimage. The Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is one of the most significant events in the Hindu calendar, drawing a diverse crowd of sadhus, ascetics, pilgrims, and tourists. This year’s Maha Kumbh Mela is particularly noteworthy as it marks the grand Kumbh Mela, which occurs once every 144 years, coinciding with a rare celestial alignment of the sun, moon, and Jupiter.
With over 400 million people expected to participate, this year's event is set to be the largest in its history, spanning 45 days in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Prayagraj, revered for its Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers—is considered one of the holiest sites for Hindus. During the festival, devotees gather for the shahi snan (royal baths), believing that immersion in the sacred waters will purify the soul.
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The origins of the Kumbh Mela are rooted in Hindu mythology, specifically the legend of Samudra Manthan, where Lord Vishnu is said to have spilt drops of the elixir of immortality from his urn at four locations on Earth—Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. These cities have hosted the Kumbh Mela on a rotational basis for centuries, with Prayagraj’s event considered the most important and spectacular.
Ahead of the festival, grand processions have welcomed the 13 akharas (ancient monastic warrior sects) from across the country. Historically, these groups have competed fiercely for the honour of taking the first holy dip, with violent clashes and loss of life occurring in previous years.
This year’s Kumbh Mela promises to be more grandiose than ever, with large-scale state-backed investments and a significant political undercurrent. The Uttar Pradesh state government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has reportedly allocated over 70 billion rupees for infrastructure and sanitation projects.
However, the festivities have also been marked by controversy. Reports suggest that for the first time, Muslim vendors have been barred from setting up stalls at the event, and Muslim taxi drivers claim they were explicitly told not to transport Hindu pilgrims. Mahant Durganand Brahmachari, a senior priest at the Kumbh Mela, condemned efforts to create communal divisions, stressing the importance of peaceful coexistence and unity during the festival.
To address the challenges posed by the event's vast scale, digital innovations have been introduced to aid pilgrims. A dedicated Kumbh Mela mobile app will help attendees navigate the sprawling 15-square-mile site, while an AI-powered chatbot will assist with logistical and spiritual queries. Radio-frequency wristbands will be distributed to pilgrims to track their whereabouts and reunite lost individuals, and the skies will be illuminated by a stunning light show featuring over 2,000 drones, bringing Hindu mythology to life.
The Maha Kumbh Mela is set to continue until February 26, attracting millions of devotees from across India and around the world.
