It won’t be wrong to say that the ‘Maha Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj 2025’ that took place in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh was a ‘one-of-a-kind experience’ of walking along with a crowd of millions of people, full of devotion and faith, having a common goal of attaining spirituality and purification of the soul.
The Maha Kumbh is more than just a festival; it is the largest congregation of millions of pilgrims, sadhus and sanyasis (ascetics) and curious travellers from all over India and abroad. This year, it was also one of the highest anticipated pilgrimages taking place because it is said that the auspicious time for this Maha Kumbh comes once every 144 years. It is estimated that this year the festival attracted appropriately 660 million visitors.
Looking into the astrological significance behind this festival, the Maha Kumbh is said to take place due to a major and rare celestial event when the Sun, Saturn and Jupiter align with each other, which happens only in 144 years. Thus, this Maha Kumbh, which commenced from 13th January to 26th February 2025, was so special astrologically and has attracted crores of devotees with each passing day.
Because of the cosmic powers coming from this alignment, taking a dip into the sacred confluence of the three rivers, the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, also called ‘Tribeni Sangam’, results in gaining spiritual energy and is also associated with the cleansing of all sins and thus purification of the soul.
The Mythological Significance of Kumbh Mela
The mythological significance of the Kumbh Mela (Kumbh means Pot and Mela means a fair) can be traced back to the episode of Samudra Manthana, the churning of the ocean that is mentioned in Vishnu Purana, an ancient Hindu scripture. On Lord Vishnu’s advice, the Samudra Manthan was arranged as a contest between the Devas (Gods) and the Asuras (Demons) to obtain Amrita or holy nectar, the elixir of life (nectar for immortality).
For the churning process, Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod and Vasuki nag (snake) who resides on Lord Shiva’s neck, was coiled around it like a rope, and was also promised a share in the nectar obtained out of this churning. The Devas held the tail, and the Asuras held the head.
The first to emerge was a venomous poison that was consumed by Lord Shiva, the supreme protector of the universe. To prevent the poison from entering his body, Goddess Parvati pressed his neck, and thus the poison remained in his throat, turning it blue. So he is called Neelkantha (one with a blue throat).
The churning led to the emergence of the Goddesses, apsaras, supernatural animals, valuables, etc, and when, at the end, Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda, appeared with the pot of amrit, it caused a fight between the Devas and the asuras for possession. The Asuras took the pot of amrit from Dhanvantari and ran away.
While the Asuras were carrying away the nectar, from the Devas it fell at four different places that are believed to be Haridwar, Prayag, Nashik-Trimbakeshwar and Ujjain, and at these four places at that time the sun, moon, and planets had reached the unique astrological alignment, and thus Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these places.
The Shahi Snans or Royal Bath of Maha Kumbh Mela Prayagraj,2025
The Shahi snan, which translates into the Holy Bath at the designated spots by the river banks, was the major goal of the pilgrims participating in this holy festival. The Maha Kumbh mela began with the auspicious occasion of “Paush Purnima on 13th January”, which was also an important bathing date. The following were the subsequent dates on which the Royal Bath took place at Tribeni Sangam.
- Makar Sankranti (First Shahi Snan) 14th January
- Mauni Amavasya (Second Shahi Snan) 29th January
- Basant Panchami (Third Shahi Snan) 3rd February
- Maghi Purnima: 12th February
- Maha Shivratri: 26th February
The first bath of Paush Purnima holds immense religious importance. It is believed that taking a dip in sacred rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna, or Saraswati on this day washes away sins and welcomes positive energy.
The act is not merely physical cleansing, but a symbolic purification of the mind and spirit. According to the Hindu tradition, the Naga Sadhus take the first royal bath as they hold a high honour and are emissaries of Hindu traditions and religion.
The main reason behind the Naga Sadhus taking the holy bath before everyone else is deeply symbolic. Their bath makes the holy water of the river Ganga more powerful and adds more meaning to the auspiciousness of this event. Once completed, the Royal Bath of the Naga Sadhus are followed by millions of devotees who have gathered there to take a dip on this date marked as shahi snan.
Understanding the Naga Sadhus and the “Akhadas”
For the first time, I met some of the Naga Sadhus. Although they visit in huge numbers during the “Ambabuchi mela held at Maa Kamakhya Mandir” every year. But even after being a resident of Guwahati city, I could never attend the occasion for work or other reasons. There is something very spiritual about these Naga sadhus.
Many Sadhus took away the social media limelight while the festival was going on, but the real ones stayed quiet, far away from the crowd, immersed in their meditation.
The Naga Sadhus are a sect of ascetic monks within Hinduism, known for their distinctive appearance, rigorous practices, and historical association with martial arts. They are devotees of Lord Shiva and lead a life of renunciation, seeking spiritual liberation through meditation, yoga, and other ascetic disciplines.
Their commitment to detachment from worldly possessions is symbolised by their traditional nakedness, covered only in ashes. Some of the practices followed by the Naga Sadhus are:-
Meditation: Focusing the mind to achieve higher states of consciousness.
Yoga: Physical and mental disciplines to control the body and mind.
Asceticism: Severe self-discipline, including celibacy, fasting, and enduring harsh conditions.
Rituals: Performing religious ceremonies and practices, often involving fire and mantras.
Living close to nature: Experiencing and existing within nature
There were separate camps set up for the “Akhadas” of the Naga Sadhus. Akhadas comprises the Hindu religious sects of sadhus, bringing all of them together under one roof, seeking salvation, spirituality, knowledge, wisdom, self-learning, and they look after the well-being of the religion and provide protection.
Now, there are six main Akhadas that participated in the Maha Kumbh Mela of 2025. They are the most famous and oldest ones, ‘Juna Akhada‘, which follows Shaivism (believers of Lord Shiva), then ‘Niranjani Akhada’, again following Shaivism, and the ‘Shastradhari Akhada’ is the Mahanirvani Akhada. According to Hinduism, this Akhada was organised by Adi Shankaracharya and was founded by Kapila Mahamuni.
Next is ‘Atal Akhada’ with its headquarters at Varanasi, the ‘Nirmohi Akhada’ following Vaishnavism. They follow Shaivism and also Tantric traditions. It is associated with Guru Gorakhnath, a Hindu yogi, mahasiddha, the founder of the Nath Monastic Movement in India. There is also the ‘Kinnar Akhada’ established in 2018 by the Hijra Community (Transgender) under Juna Akhada.
The Naga Sadhus embody a life of renunciation and devotion. Their practices often involve intense meditation, rigorous physical discipline, and a commitment to protecting the Hindu faith.
Types of Kumbh Mela celebrated in India
Four types of Kumbh Mela are celebrated at different intervals. The Magh Mela happens every year in Prayagraj during the month of Magha, according to the Hindu Calendar ( January- February). Then the Purna Kumbh Mela happens every 12 years in these four locations- Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, and Ujjain.
The Ardha Kumbh Mela is held every 6 years in Prayagraj and Haridwar. The Maha Kumbh is held every 144 years in Prayagraj, which is considered to be the most sacred and auspicious mainly because of the astrological alignment of the planets.
My Experience at Maha Kumbh Mela Prayagraj, 2025
Now, let’s come to that part of this blog, the reason why I am sharing with you, my readers. I still get goosebumps when I reflect upon the fact that I have attended probably the century’s largest human congregation on Indian soil.
I have been planning for this trip ever since it came to my attention that 2025 was the year of Kumbh Mela. Initially, it was a solo endeavour, a pilgrimage I felt compelled to undertake, as it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Having previously explored the spiritual heart of Varanasi and the cultural richness of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh held a special allure for me. This would be my third visit, and I was eager to immerse myself in the grandeur of the Kumbh.
The prospect of experiencing the Maha Kumbh Mela alone was daunting, so I extended an invitation to my elder sister. However, she was hesitant. The sheer scale of the Mela, the vast expanse of the grounds, and the considerable amount of walking involved made us give second thoughts. I understood her concerns, but I was determined to persuade her to join me on this incredible journey.
It was almost January when she finally agreed to accompany me, and it was destined that we would go together, so coincidentally, she could book the tickets on the same flight that I was supposed to board from Kolkata.
We reached Prayagraj Airport on 27 January 2025, so we just had one day in Prayagraj, and on the 28th, we were supposed to return to our home.
I had already booked a homestay in Prayagraj, and they arranged a cab for us for pick up and drop off at the airport. Since I had planned everything months back, I didn’t face any trouble despite the huge flow of tourists in Prayagraj during those days of the Maha Kumbh Mela.
On 27th July, 2025, we woke up early morning and started our journey towards the Mela venue on foot at around 9 am. There were no vehicles, but luckily we found an e-rickshaw, and he dropped us till Civil Lines Chowraha, just opposite to Shri Hanumat Niketan, Prayagraj.
From there, we started walking towards the Sangam point. But luckily, we boarded rickshaws at various points, which reduced the walking range to a great extent.
All we could see was an ocean of human beings, men, women, children, some were carrying their luggage in their hands or heads and maybe proceeding towards the designated camps or tents.
It took us around one and a half hours to reach the Sangam point. Everything was so well organised, and there were enquiry booths, almost at every corner of the Mela. A huge number of police, personnel, and armed forces were employed to look after the safety and discipline of the pilgrims coming from different corners of the country and the world.
It was time to take the dip, so we decided to go one after the other. My sister decided to go first, thus she handed over her backpack to me, and I held it till she took the holy dip at the Sangam point. After her, it was my turn. It was a divine feeling that I cannot simply express in words.
It took us around half an hour to return to the bank, as we had to push through a large number of people coming in. We dried ourselves in the changing rooms. There were a large number of changing rooms set up near the Sangam Point, where both men and women can dry themselves up and change their clothes after taking the holy dip.
It was around noon when we were done talking about the dip, and we were quite hungry by then. There were many food stalls, so we had some lunch at one of them. We also had a few cups of tea and interacted with some fellow pilgrims who had come from different parts of our country.
It was such a beautiful moment where people with a common objective amalgamated on this holy land with a divine purpose. It was 1 pm by then, and we decided to pay a visit to the Akhadas.
A visit to the Maha Kumbh Mela would be incomplete without paying a visit to the Akhadas. There were 30 Pontoon bridges built over the river for the smooth movement of sadhus, pilgrims and also vehicles.
The Akhadas were on the other side of the river. On enquiry, we were told most of the bridges were closed as Home Minister Shri Amit Shah was scheduled to visit the Maha Kumbh Mela the same day.
But gate No. 13 was open, so we took that bridge and reached the other bank of the river. We had to walk for an hour till we reached Juna Akhada, where we met some of the Sadhus, talked with them. It was such a spiritual experience that’s going to last forever in our hearts.
But our return journey was the most difficult one. Almost all the bridges were closed; whichever bridge we reached was closed due to high security reasons for the arrival of important dignitaries. We have to walk to Bridge No. 18, and the distance between the bridges is a few kilometres. Finally, after 4-5 hours, we reached the exit gate from Maha Kumbh Mela.
It was almost 7 pm. By that time, we had walked almost 25 thousand steps, as my iPhone recorded. That was quite a memory we were talking back with us.
It’s Maha Kumbh after all, and what it is if we didn’t have to walk for a few kilometres. Experiencing the Maha Kumbh Mela isn’t just about the destination; it’s also about the journey. And what would that journey be if it didn’t involve walking a few kilometres? The walk was a pilgrimage in itself, a testament to our faith and determination.
As we navigated through the bustling crowds, the air filled with the scent of incense and the sound of bells, we were part of a moving sea of humanity, all drawn by the same spiritual pull. Each step brought a new sight, a new sound, a new experience, making the journey as memorable as the destination. After all, it’s the Maha Kumbh Mela, and the walk is an integral part of the experience
The Maha Kumbh Mela was a spectacle of faith and spirituality that I had the privilege to witness. The sea of humanity, all converging at the sacred confluence of rivers, was a sight to behold. The air was filled with chants and prayers, creating an atmosphere of divine serenity. The sight of millions taking a holy dip in the river was profoundly moving. The vibrant colours, the diverse cultures, and the shared sense of spirituality made my experience at the Maha Kumbh Mela truly unforgettable.
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