Day one of the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj today.
Prayagraj: The 45-day-long Maha Kumbh 2025—an occasion of spiritual and cultural celebration—commenced with unparalleled grandeur today on the Paush Purnima day, which Hindus regard as an auspicious day. An estimated 1.5 crore devotees gathered from across the globe today to take the first holy dip of this monumental event at the Sangam—the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and (mythological) Saraswati rivers.
This year’s Maha Kumbh is believed to be a spectacle reminiscent of the spiritual grandeur witnessed once every 144 years. Thousands of devotees had already begun arriving two days before the official bathing day, signalling a record-breaking congregation. The Government expects around 45 crore devotees during the Maha Kumbh.
Kalpvas, an integral tradition of the Maha Kumbh, too, began today and will continue until February 12, 2025. According to ancient beliefs, Kalpvas begins on Paush Purnima and continues for a month until Magh Purnima. This time 1.6 lakh tents equipped with essential facilities, including electricity, water, and sanitation, have been set up for the devotees who would reside in tents near the Sangam adhering to strict spiritual discipline, during this period.
To support this tradition, the ‘Prayagraj Mela Authority’ has made special arrangements, such as affordable ration and cylinder distribution, secure bathing ghats, and bonfire provisions, to ensure the comfort of Kalpvasis. Hospitals within the Mela area are also set up to address health concerns, while Tirthpurohits and Prayagwals conducting rituals have been provided with additional facilities. Today, Kalpvasis, known for their intense spiritual discipline, took a holy dip in the Sangam, beginning their 45-day-long spiritual retreat, when they observe vows of celibacy, simplicity, and regular prayers. The coincidence of Paush Purnima falling today, an auspicious day for worshipping Lord Shiva, amplified the spiritual significance of the event.
With the Makar Sankranti festival falling on January 14, a massive gathering of devotees has flocked in from all over the world to the Maha Kumbh to the sacred banks of the Ganga, braving the piercing cold, to take the holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti tomorrow. This year’s Sankranti holds special significance as there is no Bhadra, making the entire day auspicious. This festival marks the Sun’s transition into Capricorn from Sagittarius, heralding the beginning of Uttarayan. Bathing in holy rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna during Makar Sankranti is believed to cleanse sins and bestow spiritual merit.
Recognizing the spiritual importance of the Sangam Snan, the Uttar Pradesh government has expanded the bathing area by reclaiming over 2 hectares of land at the Triveni Sangam within 85 days, enabling two lakh devotees to bathe simultaneously. Moreover, it reclaimed 26 hectares of additional land through meticulous dredging operations by four dredging machines. This expansion tripled the Sangam’s capacity compared to 2019.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the event as a “proud symbol of India’s unity in diversity”. He emphasized the Maha Kumbh‘s global prestige as a manifestation of Sanatan culture and traditions. Extending a warm welcome to all attendees, he expressed hope that their spiritual aspirations would be fulfilled during this divine event.
The Union Ministry of Culture stated that the anticipated turnout for Maha Kumbh 2025 is expected to “surpass the population of several nations, underlining its global significance”.
Foreign devotees not only witnessed but also actively participated in the rituals. International pilgrims and tourists, including YouTubers from South Korea and visitors from Japan, Spain, Russia, and the United States, were captivated by the event’s grandeur. At the Sangam Ghat, many engaged with local guides to understand the cultural and spiritual essence of the Maha Kumbh. Christina from Spain described her experience as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Sadhus from various countries, having embraced Sanatan Dharma, took the holy dip, adding to the festival’s spiritual diversity today.
Sellers of puja materials and tilak artists were also seen busy attending to the swelling crowd of devotees. Retail vendors selling Prasad mentioned that the influx of pilgrims this year has surpassed even the 2019 Kumbh Mela. Pradeep Upadhyay, a local tilak artist, who also participated in the 2019 Kumbh, remarked that the enthusiasm and turnout in Maha Kumbh 2025 are much higher. Similarly, Santoshi Devi, a vendor selling puja essentials near Sangam, noted that Ganga Jal (Ganga water) storage boxes were among the most purchased items, reflecting the devotees’ eagerness to take back the sacred water as a symbol of divine blessings.
Meanwhile, the Bhula-Bhatka camps with dedicated sections for women and children, an essential feature of the Maha Kumbh, already started playing a pivotal role in reuniting separated families amidst the sea of humanity from day one of the festival. Loudspeakers installed along the ghats continuously broadcast announcements, facilitating the reunion of separated individuals. Police forces stationed at the venue assisted attendees, ensuring the event remained organized. In addition, the Khoya-Paya (Lost and Found) centres utilized digital tools and social media to locate missing individuals, in an attempt to enhance the safety and convenience of participants.
– global bihari bureau
