Three reactions after the stampede and deaths at Kumbh Mela.

I. Multiple news platforms: A stampede-like situation occurred at Kumbh…

II. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister: Between 1 am to 2 am, at the akhara route where arrangements were made for the Amrit Snan of the akharas, some devotees crossed over the barricades and were critically injured. They were immediately rushed to hospital where treatment was promptly ensured.

III. BJP MP and former Union Minister in Parliament: There was a tragedy at the Maha Kumbh. An investigation is underway. We do smell a conspiracy there. When the entire investigation is complete, those behind the incident will have to hang their heads in shame.

Three reactions after the stampede and deaths at New Delhi Railway Station.

I. Government’s ‘favourite’ news agency, quoting Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railways: There is no stampede (at New Delhi Railway Station). It is only a rumour. Northern Railways was running two planned special trains (for Prayagraj).

II. BJP Party Spokesperson post on X: New Delhi railway station as of now (along with a 10 second video clip showing people walking normally in a station).

III. Railways Minister posts on X: Situation under control at New Delhi railway station (NDLS) Delhi Police and RPF reached. Injured taken to hospital. Special trains being run to evacuate sudden rush. 4 special trains to evacuate this unprecedented sudden rush at NDLS. The rush has now reduced.

The Union government’s standard operating procedure is to first underplay the tragedy. Next, subtly spread misinformation through friendly sections of the media. Then, try to deflect the blame. This pattern is visible even for rail accidents. Recall the Balasore tragedy in 2023, one of India’s deadliest train accidents, which led to 296 deaths. While on the subject of railways, here are ten points to ponder:

1. Nine out of ten non-suburban rail passengers travel in either second class or sleeper class. Only ONE out of ten non-suburban passengers travel in upper classes, including all air-conditioned classes.

2. Over the past decade, air-conditioned passenger capacity has grown by 190%, while second-class capacity has increased by only 15%.

3. Overcrowding in both trains and railway stations is a pitiful sight. Visuals shared on social media invariably show passengers sitting on the floor, squatting outside toilets or even hanging precariously from doors and windows.

4. The Union government’s pet vanity project is the Bullet Train. Consider this. Each kilometre of the Bullet Train costs approximately Rs 200 crore to construct. Compare that with a Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC). A DFC transports commodities like sabzi, chawal. Cost of construction: Rs 25 crore per kilometre. What should be the priority?

5. No one is making this up! The Union government actually installed selfie booths in railway stations with Prime Minister Modi’s life-size models, at a cost of Rs 6 lakh each.

6. In the last ten years, there have been 678 consequential train accidents, resulting in 748 deaths. Out of the 217 consequential accidents between 2017-21, 75% (163) accidents were due to derailments.

7. The KAVACH safety system has been deployed on just 1500 route kilometre, accounting for only 2% of Indian Railways’ total 68,000 route kilometre.

8. 58,000 Group C vacancies were notified last year. Of these vacancies, three fourths were classified under the category – ‘safety’.

9. From 2017, the BJP government stopped the practice of a separate Railway Budget and subsumed it into the General Budget. In the Finance Minister’s hour-long Budget speech this year, the word Railways was mentioned just thrice, that too in relation to foreign goods. Not a word about railway safety.

10. The capital expenditure outlay for Railways in this year’s Budget has been pegged at Rs 2.6 lakh crore, the same as the Budget estimates of the earlier year. Funds should have been increased to bolster the safety and security of passengers.

The Indian Railways must strike a balance between commercial viability and social responsibility. As your columnist said in Parliament: “Railways constitute the infrastructure for the fundamental right of every Indian citizen to move safely from point A to point B.”

Securing the lives of 650 crore passengers is a full-time job. A part timer will never be able to keep track.

Additional research: Ayashman Dey

(Derek O’Brien, MP, leads the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

New Delhi:

The stampede at Maha Kumbh on the early hours of Wednesday took place because the crowd had gathered ahead of time and broke the barriers, the Uttar Pradesh police have said. Thirty people have died in the pre-dawn stampede that took place as people jostled for a dip at the confluence on Mauni Amavasya, one of the holiest days of the month-long religious festival.

“Before Brahma Muhurta, between 1 am to 2 am, a huge crowd gathered on the Akhara Marg,” said Vaibhav Krishna, the Deputy Inspector General  posted at the Mahakumbh.

“Due to this crowd, the barricades on the other side broke and the crowd ran over the devotees waiting to take a holy dip of Brahma Muhurta on the other side,” he added.

One of the families that lost two of its members, however, told NDTV that the tragedy could have been averted if the barriers were opened as the crowd started building.

“If they had opened the barrier in time, this stampede would have been averted,” said Jagvanti, whose family had come to the Kumbh from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh.

“The barriers did not open on time… a huge crowd came in. Nobody came to help at the time. The people were running over each other. We saw our mother and sister-In-law dying in front of our eyes,” she added.

The police officer said after the stampede, 90 people were taken to the hospital. 

Of the 30 who died, 25 have been identified. Those yet to be  identified include four persons from Karnataka, one from Assam and one from Gujarat.

Thirty-six people are being treated at the local medical college. 

Prayagraj:

Thirty people were killed in the stampede that happened just before dawn at the Maha Kumbh venue in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, the police chief that oversees security at the massive religious gathering told reporters today.

Twenty-five bodies have been identified, police officer Vaibhav Krishna told reporters, adding 60 were injured. Many have been hospitalised.

The announcement of casualties came hours after local reports and Prayagraj residents posted on social media about deaths at the stampede. The reports were, however, not consistent with the number of dead.

The pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh broke out after many pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days.

Many people started breaking barricades before the stampede happened, the police officer said.

Sarojini, a Karnataka resident who came to take a dip in the Maha Kumbh, told news agency PTI, “We came in a batch of 60 people in two buses. There were nine people in our group. Suddenly there was pushing in the crowd, and we got trapped. Many fell down and the crowd became uncontrollable.”

A woman at a local hospital, whose child was injured, said there was nowhere to go when people started pushing in the massive crowd. “Some people who pushed us were laughing while we begged them for kindness towards the children,” she told PTI.

Mr Krishna, the Deputy Inspector in General (DIG) of Maha Kumbh, said the situation is under control.

President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Mahant Ravindra Puri, who was headed towards the Triveni Sangam for the amrit snan said thousands of saints and Naga sadhus were coming with him. “We are going for the amrit snan… We will vacate the ghats very quickly so that all the devotees who have come here are able to take a holy dip.”

Digambar Naga Baba Chidanand Puri of Panchayati Niranjani Akhara told news agency ANI after taking amrit snan that after the incident, people from the Niranjani Akhara are coming in small numbers to take the holy dip.

Lucknow:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today detailed all the preparations made by authorities in Prayagraj for Mahakumbh. Yogi Adityanath, while speaking at NDTV Mahakumbh Samvaad, said that when the BJP got the chance to organise Ardha Kumbh in 2019, he along with other government officials identified all the challenges before the mega event. Mahakumbh is held every 12 years and Ardha Kumbh every six years.

“In 2019, the BJP got the opportunity to organise Kumbh for the first time. At that time, we studied all the media reports and other documents on Kumbh arrangements till then. We were surprised to see global reporting on Kumbh. Some would say, it discriminated between castes and gender. Some would comment on the lack of hygiene,” Yogi Adityanath told NDTV’s Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Pugalia.

“So, in 2019, we were mindful of these challenges and made arrangements based on that,” Yogi Adityanath,” he said.

The Chief Minister asserted that “an event is not just that. It’s also an opportunity for a city’s sustainable development – its infrastructure, its connectivity”.

“We knew we had to focus on the issue that could draw the attention of media and opposition due to lapses on our part. Like issues such as lack of hygiene, stampedes, questions about the cleanliness of the river etc. Keeping all these things in mind, we expanded the event area. We worked systematically on Prayagraj city. We worked on the roads and railway connectivity,” he said.

“Prayagraj got a civil terminal for the first time in 2019. It was built in a record 11 months. Nearly 150 roads were upgraded – from single lane to double lane and from double lane to four lanes. Several teams worked to keep the river clean. Earlier the toilets were built in such a manner that the sewer would flow to the river. People would bathe in that, the river used to stink. We changed that,” he added.

Yogi Adityanath then listed out the arrangements made by his government: “This year, we built 14 underpasses and flyovers, expanded the civil terminal and improved the connectivity. For the mela, which is on 10,000 acres, we allocated an additional 5,000 acres for parking”.

Mahakumbh 2025 – which began on January 13 and will continue until February 26 – has been seeing an unprecedented influx of devotees. As per the latest figures, 12 crore people have taken the sacred dip at the revered Ganga-Yamuna-Saraswati confluence. The mega event is witnessing people from different languages, lifestyles, and traditions coming together at the Sangam.

New Delhi:

With depictions of ‘Samudra Manthan’, ‘Amrit Kalash’ and holy men bathing on the banks of Sangam, the Republic Day tableau of Uttar Pradesh celebrated the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and showcased a metaphorical confluence of ‘virasat’ and ‘vikas’.

The tableau drew cheers from the crowd as it rolled down the Kartavya Path here during the ceremonial parade on Sunday.

Billed as one of the biggest gatherings of humanity on earth, Maha Kumbh 2025 began on January 13 and will culminate on February 26.

While 75 years of enactment of the Constitution is the focus of 76th Republic Day celebrations, the theme for the tableaux is ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’.

The tableau of Uttar Pradesh showcases the grandeur of Maha Kumbh 2025, portraying a metaphorical ‘Sangam’ of ‘virasat’ and ‘vikas’.

Leading the display is an impressive replica of the ‘Amrit Kalash’ tilted forward, symbolising the flow of the sacred ‘Amritdhara’. Surrounding it, seers and saints have been depicted blowing conch shells, performing ‘snan’ at Sangam, and engaging in meditation, while devotees immerse themselves in the holy waters of the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

On the panel of the trailer, the ‘akharas’, and devotees going for the ‘Amrit snan’ are depicted through murals and LED screens, according to a description of the tableau shared by Defence Ministry officials earlier.

At its core, the mythical tale of ‘Samudra Manthan’ has been vividly depicted, symbolising the profound historical and cultural significance of the Maha Kumbh. On its back side, 14 gems that emerged from the churning of the ocean, have been depicted, it said.

“It is a matter of honour and great pride that Maha Kumbh, our great heritage will be showcased on Kartavya Path while the religious gathering is currently underway in Prayagraj,” Ram Manohar Tripathi, deputy director in the Department of Information & Public Relations of Uttar Pradesh government said on January 22, during a preview of the Republic Day tableau here.

“With depictions of ‘Samudra Manthan’, ‘Amrit Kalash’ and holy men bathing on the banks of the confluence, people will get a feel of ‘Sangam’ during the Republic Day Parade. And, this tableau also depicts various development initiatives of the UP government, thus it is sort of a ‘sangam’ of ‘virasat’ and ‘vikas’,” he had told PTI.

A troupe of artistes dressed in traditional attire walked while another person blew a conch and a few others played ‘damru’, walking along side the state tableau. The Maha Kumbh is held every 12 years in Prayagraj.

Highlighting the robust technological and digital preparations for Maha Kumbh, the tableau also showcases the state-of-the-art Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC) for efficient security and crowd management at the Kumbh. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Prayagraj:

The ongoing Mahakumbh event here is a congregation like no other, drawing millions of devotees and pilgrims from across the world. Among the sea of visitors, various ‘babas’ stand out, especially those who carry their distinct identity.

One such figure is Baba Artatrana, who cures people with a touch of his feet. He claims that he can cure any complex disease, even cancer, with just a touch of his feet.

People could be seen standing in long queues as they for their illness to be touched away.

“I have been doing this divine treatment since 2007. Nothing to eat or drink, nothing to drink, no medicine, no medicine. Just by touching and talking on the phone and listening to my mantra on YouTube, a huge disease is cured. If someone is far away, they will be fine by talking on the phone. He will listen to my mantra and it will be fine,” Baba Artatrana told ANI.

Baba Artatrana also claimed that he cured millions of people during Corona pandemic by just a simple touch.

“When Corona came, I challenged our Odisha government. I also cured millions of Corona,” he said.

Baba said that he visit the foreign lands as well so everyone could reap benefits from his “powers.” He claimed that he has been blessed by Lord Shiva and has a success rate of 99 per cent.

“Not just in Odisha or India, I go outside the country as well. I treat people there too. This is a blessing of Lord Shiva. With his blessing, I can cure the biggest disease in a pinch and nothing else. I don’t know why God gave me so much power, but God teaches me to be powerful,” he said.

Mahakumbh, which commenced on January 13, will continue until February 26. The next key bathing dates include January 29 (Mauni Amavasya – Second Shahi Snan), February 3 (Basant Panchami – Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

On a three-day visit to the Maha Kumbh, Philanthropist Sudha Murty helped serve the Mahaprasad in the ISKCON camp at Prayagraj. Wearing a green saree, and a black bag on her shoulders, Ms Murty is seen standing at the food counter, distributing chapattis to devotees visiting the Maha Kumbh.

Prayagraj | #Watch: Sudha Murthy helps serve the Mahaprasad in the ISKCON camp at Prayagraj#MahaKumbh2025 pic.twitter.com/NJjWykSxn8

— NDTV (@ndtv) January 22, 2025

In another video, Ms Murty is seen taking a tour of the ISKCON Mahaprasadam Kitchen and interacting with the volunteers, understanding how the food is prepared using machines.

Prayagraj | #Watch: Sudha Murthy touring the ISKCON Mahaprasadam Kitchen at Mahakumbh 2025, Prayagraj.#MahaKumbh2025 pic.twitter.com/whSSmzCMiz

— NDTV (@ndtv) January 22, 2025

Adani Group in collaboration with ISKCON is distributing Mahaprasad to more than 40 thousand devotees every day in the Maha Kumbh Mela area. ISKCON has undertaken the task of preparing the Mahaprasad in its kitchen built in Sector 19 of Prayagraj.

The kitchen, used to prepare Mahaprasad, is equipped with modern facilities like boilers to heat water and boil vegetables and rice. Tracks have been laid to carry heavy food containers. Three big machines have been installed to make rotis. Together, these machines prepare 10,000 rotis in an hour.

Excited Ms Murty arrived in Prayagraj on Monday. Calling Maha Kumbh a “Teerthraj”, Ms Murty said, “I am happy, excited and hopeful.”

Ms Murty took a holy dip in the Sangam on the first two days of her visit and intends to take it on the last day as well. Speaking to the news agency ANI, she said, “My maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, grandfather, none of them could come – that is why I have to offer tarpan in their name and I am very happy…”

People visiting the Maha Kumbh Mela take a holy dip at Sangam Triveni, believed to wash away their sins. The religious congregation which began on January 13 will continue till February 26 and is expected to host 45 crore people.

The sheer diversity of Hinduism and its inherent contradictions may appear baffling to an outsider. It doesn’t tick any of the boxes that would define a religion if we apply the Western definition of religion to Hinduism.

There is no single holy book, no single god, no concept of blasphemy or a centralised church or ulema to decide what is an essential practice of the religion and what is not. Hinduism is a kaleidoscope of colourful traditions, rituals, and deities, each one unique and vibrant. It is baffling to see a religion can remain coherent with so many practices and beliefs coexisting and intertwining. It is a collection of vibrant colours and intricate symbols, with temples adorned with intricate carvings and statues of various deities. The diversity is palpable, with devotees from different regions and backgrounds coming together to worship.

How can a religion exist in such organised chaos? Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world, but it is highly local to the Indian subcontinent with a few honourable but not-so-significant exceptions. It is not a proselytising religion and couldn’t care less about adding more followers to its fold. With its countless gods, books and folk tradition, it is a miracle that this proudly pagan religion that worships nature and finds gods in everything and everywhere, yet is agnostic and atheistic, has survived and flourished for so long.

How Hinduism Survived It All

One needs to only spread the world map to see what a spectacular achievement it has been for a leaderless, churchless belief system to do so. There were many religions that were contemporary to Hinduism a few thousand years ago, from Egypt, to Rome, to Greece to Africa and to the landmass that is now known as America or Australia. But when Christianity and later Islam spread from the Middle East, these two competing faiths converted, wiped off or replaced most of the native faiths in all the continents. Hinduism alone survived, despite or perhaps because of its diversity and pagan glory.

This was no accident. The rishis, the seers that this country produced from time to time and its spectacular storytellers and holy men, ensured that there were events and festivals that encouraged cohesion despite all diversities. For example, the daily puja in temples requires coconut from coastal India and saffron from Kashmir, sandal from Karnataka and so on, bringing diverse geographies together. The four Mathas that Adi Shankara established are in the four corners of India, and the Jyotirlingas or Shaktipeethas are spread across the length and breadth of the country. The path of Rama’s journey from Ayodhya to Lanka is littered with countless pilgrim spots, holy bathing ghats and temples associated with Ramayana. Through pilgrim routes, rituals and storytelling, every village of India was interconnected in a complex web, and this was what gave Hinduism its inherent resilience and strength to survive despite losing political power for over eight hundred years.

There aren’t many cultures that have survived such setbacks and invasions and lived to tell the tale. In the midst of this religious plethora, an event stands out for its energy, spirit, and sheer scale: the Kumbh Mela. This grand gathering, which happens once every twelve years, is believed to be the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth. It’s a spectacle that transcends age, caste, gender and various schools of thought in Hinduism.

Historical Accounts Of Kumbh

Though references to the importance of Theerthas can be found in Rig Veda and Puranas, and Chinese travellers like Huan Tsang have given eyewitness accounts of the Kumbh Mela, it was during the medieval era, a time when Hinduism was facing its greatest challenge, that Kumbha Melas conducted in the four holy cities of India attained political significance. Like anything in India, the tradition is attributed to supernatural events that happened in some distant Yuga, but one can see a clear design in the celebrations that show design and planning with an aim to unite and give direction and vigour to the faith.

The Kumbh Mela, held in the cities of Haridwar, Prayag, Trimbak-Nashik and Ujjain, is a testament to the intricate thread that ties every Hindu together. Each city boasts a sacred river: the Ganga in Haridwar, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati in Prayag, the Godavari in Trimbak-Nashik, and the Shipra in Ujjain. These rivers are believed to turn into ‘amrit’, that is, the divine nectar of immortality, during the Kumbh Mela. Devotees come from far and wide, travelling over treacherous terrains and braving all manner of hardships, to take a holy dip in these sacred waters. They believe that by doing so, they are cleansed of all their sins and they earn a direct passage to moksha, that is, liberation from the cycle of birth and death. It is a means to Prayaschita, or atonement, for past mistakes.

The Story Behind The Festival

There is a great deal of confusion about the frequency and significance of the Kumbh. There are many legends surrounding the festival, but all have one thing in common: the ‘amrit‘ (nectar of immortality) fell at the four locations where the Kumbh Mela is celebrated today. According to the myth, the Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons) churned the cosmic ocean to extract this nectar. Many precious and some dangerous things emerged from the ocean before the nectar was eventually retrieved in a ‘kumbh’ (pot). Depending on the version of the story, either Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, Mohini, the female avatar of Vishnu, Garuda, Vishnu’s mount, or Indra, the king of the Devas, spilled the Amrit Kumbh in their efforts to save it from falling into the hands of the Asuras. The most famous version of the story recounts a 12-day battle between the Devas and Asuras over the Kumbh. Garuda carried the Amrita in his beak for 12 days, but had to rest in between, as it was tiring. The places he chose to rest were the four Teerthas (note that these spots were sacred even before the Kumbh began), where the Asuras could not enter. When Garuda took off again, he spilled some Amrit at each of these spots. These four locations are now the sites of the Kumbh Mela.

Since one Deva day is equivalent to one human year, and since the Devas and Asuras fought for 12 Deva days (which corresponds to 12 human years), the Kumbh Mela is celebrated once every 12 years, the venues rotating between these four holy sites. Jupiter (Brihaspati), the Guru of the Devas, guided Garuda, who aligned himself according to the positions of Jupiter, the Sun, and the Moon. Therefore, the timing of the Kumbh Mela is linked to the planetary positions of these three celestial bodies. Jupiter takes 12 human years to complete one revolution around the Sun.

Why Prayag Raj Gathring Is The Most Important

After the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, the Kumbh Melas in Nashik, Ujjain, and Haridwar will follow. Between these, there is the Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela in Haridwar and Prayag Raj, held once every six years. Among all the Melas, Prayag Raj is considered the most important. It is believed that a month-long stay in Prayag Raj, undertaking the ritual of Kalpa Vasa during the Mela (or even in the month of Magha during ordinary years), grants the householder the same benefit as a mendicant undertaking Tapasya for an entire Kalpa. In Hindu thought, one Kalpa is a vast period equivalent to one Brahma Varsha, that is, the year of Brahma, which spans 4.32 billion years. Therefore, the Prayag Raj Mela attracts the largest number of pilgrims, making it the world’s biggest religious congregation.

Amidst the bustling crowds and vibrant colours of the Kumbh Melas, one group stands out as the leader of this great spiritual gathering: the akharas. These spiritual warriors attract many solitary sadhus (monks) who do not belong to any specific group. Among those who do, thirteen active akharas hold the utmost significance at this sacred event.

Of these thirteen, seven are Shaiva akharas: Mahanirvani, Atal, Niranjani, Anand, Juna, Avahan, and Agni. Each follows its own unique set of rituals and beliefs, while also coming together to honour their shared deity, Lord Shiva. The remaining three belong to the Vaishnava tradition: Nirvani, Digambar, and Nirmohi. They, too, have their own distinct practices but join with their Shaiva counterparts to celebrate the divine presence of Lord Vishnu.

While each akhara has its individual identity, they share a common belief—that Adi Shankara founded them and that their duty is to protect and preserve the teachings of dharma. These akharas are Dharma Yodhas, or ‘faith warriors’.

But it’s not just Shaivas and Vaishnavas who make up the akharas. There are also three Sikh akharas: Bara Panchayati Udasins, Chota Panchayati Udasins, and Nirmal. These followers of Guru Nanak bring their own unique energy and traditions to this holy gathering.

What Made The British Uneasy

Naturally, such a vast congregation made the British uneasy during their rule.

The British, with their Western sensibilities and lack of understanding of Eastern spirituality, saw the Kumbh Mela as a potential hotbed of insurrection. The sheer number of pilgrims arriving from all corners of the subcontinent made them nervous.

During the rebellion of 1857, Colonel Neill specifically targeted the Kumbh Mela site and bombarded the region where the Prayagwals resided. The Prayagwals retaliated by destroying the British mission press and churches in Allahabad. Once the British regained control, they persecuted the Prayagwals with arrests and executions. Even those who could not be convicted were subjected to persecution by colonial officials. Large portions of Kumbh Mela land near the Ganga-Yamuna confluence were seized and incorporated into the government cantonment. Throughout the freedom struggle, the Kumbh Mela continued to serve as a symbol of spiritual unity and resistance against British rule. Pilgrims from every corner of the country, regardless of caste, creed, or social standing, flocked to the sacred gathering, undeterred by imperialist threats and sanctions. The idea for Banaras Hindu University germinated on the Prayag Raj Kumbh Mela grounds in 1906. Regular Kumbh Melas have always acted as a catalyst for Hindu renaissance and resilience.

To the modern eye, the sight of naked sadhus and the throngs of devout pilgrims might seem chaotic and archaic, but beneath the surface, a profound spiritual camaraderie prevails. The sadhus, with their ash-smeared bodies and matted locks, represent detachment from material pleasures and an ascetic devotion to Lord Shiva. Their nakedness is a statement of their rejection of societal norms and materialism. Their dreadlocks symbolise their commitment to a life free from vanity and worldly concerns. Their ash-smeared bodies serve as a stark reminder of the impermanence of life and the ultimate destination of all living beings—to dust we return.

The grandest show on Earth, this magnificent spiritual gathering, is a fusion of consumerism, political influence, and unshakable faith. It stands as the ultimate rejection of the homogenising force of modern Western culture. It is India’s declaration that, despite witnessing the rise and fall of countless empires that have tried to dictate its destiny, it has always prevailed through loyalty to its origins.

(Anand Neelakantan is an Indian novelist, columnist, screenwriter, and public speaker.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Lucknow:

Google is celebrating the ongoing Maha Kumbh with a rose petal animation on its search screen.

If one looks up ‘Kumbh’, ‘Maha Kumbh’, ‘Kumbh Mela’, ‘Mahakumbh’ or any similar iterations on Google, the screen plays an animation in the background showing a virtual shower of rose petals.

Google also allows for the animation to be replayed or shared with others via email, Facebook, X, and WhatsApp. A third option allows one to dismiss the animation.

“Google search engine uniquely celebrates the commencement of Maha Kumbh 2025 at Prayagraj. When you search Maha Kumbh it will shower petals on the screen in honour of Maha Kumbh,” stated a message posted on the official X handle of the Maha Kumbh.

The Maha Kumbh — one of the largest spiritual gatherings on the planet — is being held on the banks of the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers, in Prayagraj.

The mega fair, where millions of pilgrims turn up for a holy dip in the Sangam in their quest for ‘Moksha’ and to cleanse their sins in the sacred waters, kicked off on January 13 and will continue till February 26.

While nearly 5 crore people descended for the Maha Kumbh on the first two days itself, the Uttar Pradesh government, which is hosting the event, expects a footfall of 40 crore to 45 crore during the entire Mela period.

Prayagraj, UP:

Mahakumbh commenced with great enthusiasm in Prayagraj. All preparations are now in place for the ‘Amrit Snan’, which will take place on Makar Sankranti, on January 14.

The Mahakumbh Mela administration finalized the sequence of Amrit Snan for the 13 Akharas on Tuesday, ensuring adherence to traditional customs. Each Akhara has been informed about their designated time and sequence, according to a press release.

Mahant Acharya Devendra Singh Shastri, Secretary of Panchayati Akhara Nirmal, said that the information about the date, sequence and time of Amrit Snan of the Akharas has been received.

According to the press release, Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani and Shri Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara will be the first ones to take Amrit Snan. The two Akharas will depart from the camp at 5.15 am and reach the ghat at 6.15. Both have been given 40 minutes for bathing. They will depart from the ghat for the camp at 6.55 am and reach the camp at 7.55 am.

Shri Taponidhi Panchayati Shri Niranjani Akhara and Shri Panchayati Akhara Anand will be the second ones to take Amrit Snan.

Three Sanyasi Akharas will take Amrit Snan at third number and they include Shri Panchdashnam Juna Akhara, Shri Panchdashnam Aawahan Akhara and Shri Panchagni Akhara.

Among the three Bairagi Akharas, All India Shri Panch Nirmohi Ani Akhara will be the first to start from the camp at 9.40 am, reach ghat at 10.40 am and after bathing for 30 minutes, will leave the ghat at 11.10 am. Likewise, All India Shri Panch Nirvani Ani Akhara will start from the camp at 11.20 am and reach ghat at 12.20 pm. After bathing for 30 minutes, it will come back from there at 12.50 pm

The remaining three to take the dip are Udasin Akharas. Udasin Shri Panchayati Naya Udasin Akhara will leave its camp at 12.15 pm. After this, it is the turn of Shri Panchayati Akhara, Naya Udasin, Nirvana which will leave the camp at 1.20 pm. After bathing for an hour here, it will leave the ghat at 3.20 pm

Shri Panchayati Nirmal Akhara will be the last to take the Amrit bath, said the press release.

Maha Kumbh is one of the largest and most significant religious congregation in the world, held every 12 years at one of four locations in India.

The Maha Kumbh-2025, which is Poorna Kumbh will take place till February 26, 2025. Key ‘snan’ dates include January 14 (Makar Sankranti – First Shahi Snan), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya – Second Shahi Snan), February 3 (Basant Panchami – Third Shahi Snan), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri).

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