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Maha Kumbh 2025: How the biggest gathering of humanity became a Global Mela !

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Swami Chidanand Saraswati along with his foreign devotees performs Arti at Triveni Sangam during the Maha Kumbh 2025 (ANI)

The biggest gathering of humanity is not only attracting Indians but devotees from across the world are flocking to Prayagraj to participate in the holy event which happens every 144 years. What do they have to say about the event and India?

Our Bureau
Prayagraj (UP)

Continuing with the tradition, more than 4.5 million pilgrims visited the Maha Kumbh on Thursday, with more than a million Kalpwasis present at the Sangam. With this, the total number of devotees who have performed snan (holy bath) at the sacred confluence since the beginning of the Maha Kumbh has surpassed 275 million as of January 29 on the occasion of ‘Mauni Amavasya’. Authorities have intensified arrangements to ensure smooth crowd management and seamless facilities for the devotees.

On Wednesday, a stampede-like situation arose at Maha Kumbh in the early hours, resulting in several deaths and injuries. Meanwhile, after a brief halt due to the stampede-like situation, saints continue to arrive, though in smaller processions, at the Triveni Sangam for the second Amrit Snan on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

The biggest gathering of humanity which is expected to have more than 450 million visitors in total is not only attracting Indians but people from abroad as well, including some top celebrities. Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin and his girlfriend, Hollywood actress Dakota Johnson, arrived in Prayagraj on Monday evening. In visuals captured by agency lensmen, Chris and Dakota were seen sitting in a car. The couple, dressed in saffron-colored attire, appeared excited as they reached the holy city, drawing attention as they made their way through the crowd.

Chris and Dakota came to India on January 16 for the band’s musical tour. Chris along with the members of ‘Coldplay’ had concerts lined up in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Their last show of the Indian leg of Music of the Spheres tour was conducted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Republic Day.

The Maha Kumbh, held every 12 years, is being held in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26. According to tradition, pilgrims flock to the Sangam–the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati (now extinct) rivers–to take the holy dip believed to absolve sins and grant moksha (liberation).

The remaining significant ‘snan’ dates in Maha Kumbh are February 3 (Basant Panchami–Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri). 

Parmarth Niketan Ashram President Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati along with other priests perform ‘Havan’ with foreigners and his Indian disciples during the ongoing ‘Maha Kumbh’, in Prayagraj on Sunday (ANI)

Devotees from across the world are flocking to Prayagraj to participate in the Maha Kumbh celebrations and lauded the management for effectively organizing the grand-scale event. Yulia from Moscow said, “We’re here for the first time in the Kumbha mela and we’re so fascinated by the way it is arranged, the way how many people we see and how friendly all of them are to us. So, thank you very much for having us here. We will definitely never forget this and we wish the Holy Land of India to prosper and to host as many people as it can”.

She added that she had taken the holy dip at the Triveni Sangam and added, “We’re very happy about that it’s very nice and safe and beautiful and amazing and full of the Holy Spirit”.

Larina, a French tourist attending the Maha Kumbh Mela said, “I feel great here. The vibrations are extraordinary. The management here is amazing. There is a lot of help, support and security here.”

Jonathan from Hawaii said, “It’s unfathomable to imagine these many people have gathered to be one community to receive blessings from these holy rivers. For the number of people and the infrastructure here, it is unbelievable that they can pull off something of this size. Everyone seems to be very helpful to each other”.

Dharma Saraswati Das from the UK said, “I’m so blessed, happy and thankful to be here. So blessed to be able to do this- bhajans with the Naga Sadhus, chanting Harahar Mahadev and I felt very happy and ananda and doing the Ganga Snan”.

Maria from Florida in the US shared that she came to the last Kumbh Mela twelve years ago and visits India every year. Speaking about the Maha Kumbh Mela, she said, “I came to the last one 12 years ago, and after that experience I knew there was no way I would miss this one. It was one of the highlights of my life to attend. It’s quite a special event. The devotion and the beautiful people. It’s just really beautiful and colorful and kind”.

Juna Akhara Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj arrives to take a dip at Triveni Sangam during the second ‘Amrit Snan’ on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj on Wednesday (ANI Photo/Shrikant Singh)

Speaking about the arrangements, she said, “I didn’t have any trouble. They were very kind” and did a “good job” in controlling a crowd this size.

Earlier, Spiritual head of the Rishikesh-based Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, along with devotees, which include many westerners, performed ‘hawan’ at the Paramarth Niketan Kumbh Mela Camp in Prayagraj. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shared her experience of first ‘Amrit Snan’ at the Triveni Sangam and said it must have been her good deeds of past life that she got this opportunity and called the Snan a “divine event”.

“Yesterday’s Amrit Snan was a divine event. I was thinking about what good deeds I did in my past life that I got this opportunity to attend this event. This is not only the Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, but it signifies the whole world as one family when people of many countries and races take the holy dip together…”

Several visitors from across the world on Thursday expressed their gratitude for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the grand celebrations. A tourist from Germany praised the celebration and added that the Maha Kumbh celebrations are beautiful. “I love India, it’s so good”, she chimed.

The ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025 is considered to be the largest gathering in the world including foreigners who are participating in the Indian event in big numbers (ANI)

The ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025 which is considered to be the largest gathering in the world witnessed the attendance of numerous celebrities who reached Prayagraj to take a holy dip in Triveni Sangam. Actor and model Milind Soman took a dip in Triveni Sangam at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, along with his wife Ankita Konwar.

On the same day, veteran actor-turned-politician Hema Malini also took a dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. “It is my good fortune that I got the opportunity to take a ‘snan’ on this auspicious day,” the BJP MP said.

Apart from Hema Malini, several other celebrities, including Sunil Grover, Kabir Khan, Guru Randhawa, Avinash Tiwary, Mamta Kulkarni, and Anupam Kher, have also participated in the grand religious gathering.

Judicial Commission takes charge of investigation into stampede and deaths

Our Bureau

Lucknow

In a tragic incident during the Mauni Amavasya bathing ritual on Wednesday, 30 people were killed and more than 60 others were injured. In response, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath constituted a three-member judicial commission to investigate the causes of the tragedy. The panel is headed by retired Justice Harsh Kumar of the Allahabad High Court and includes retired IAS officer D.K. Singh and retired IPS officer V.K. Gupta as its members.

Now, the three-member judicial commission, constituted to investigate the tragic stampede has officially begun its work. The commission members arrived at their office in Janpath, Lucknow, on Thursday, and immediately took charge of the investigation.

Commission Chairman Justice (Retd.) Harsh Kumar said, “Since the investigation is a priority, we have taken charge within hours of the announcement.”

He added, “Although we have a month to complete the probe, we will make every effort to conclude it as quickly as possible.” Justice Kumar also confirmed that the commission would soon visit Prayagraj to assess the situation firsthand.

Meanwhile in Prayagaraj, UP DGP Prashant Kumar, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and other officials conducted an on-site inspection.

UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said, “Thirty-six injured people are admitted here…all are being treated very well and arrangements have been made for the attendants who are with them…these people belong to different places like Deoria, Delhi and Bihar, their families have been informed…no one is in serious condition but some of them have sustained fractures, it will take up to 3 weeks for them to recover, there are 2-3 such cases”.

According to the notification issued in this regard, the commission has been tasked with examining the causes and circumstances that led to the stampede and will also provide recommendations to prevent such incidents in future.

The investigation report must be submitted within one month of the commission’s formation.

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