O.N. KOUL
Maha Kumbh is really a rare religious ,cultural and patriotic congregation occurring every twelve years and the Maha Kumbh which is going on in Prayagraj in 2025 January-February has occurred after a very long gap of 144 years as it is a spiritually and religiously more significant and a holy dip during this mela purifies, cleans ones soul and is believed to give salvation to devotees which in religious terminology is called Moksha. The Maha Kumbh Mela is a congregation of faith and indianness because it is a large gathering of people from all over India who share a common Hindu faith and culture .The festival is a time for spiritual reflection ,cultural celebration ,social interaction and above all symbolizes Indianness. In fact Prayagraj turns into a mini -India during Kumbh or Maha Kumbh Mela and thus it can be said that it showcases Indian faith ,traditions and nationalism and patriotism as people from various regions of the country converge in Prayagraj and perform holy dip in sacred confluence of the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mystical Sarswati and Indianness is in full swing during the mela. People from almost all regions of India perform the holy bath in the Sangam of sacred three rivers and interact with each other and exchange their experience of Maha Kumbh and the devotees are from different languages ,traditions and so exchange of language happens and the languages get richness and in this way the notion of Indianness is furthered and strengthened .Kumbh Mela /Maha Kumbh Mela is a congregation of faith and devotion because of the following -A-The Maha Kumbh or Kumbh Mela is a pilgrimage to sacred rivers ,where devotees bathe to cleanse their sins ,impurities and achieve spiritual rewards and in fact enlightenment and salvation which is the aim and highest objective of every Sanatan Dharmi. B-The festival is centered around the idea of the ”pot of amrita”[nectar of immortality ],which came out when gods and demons churned the cosmic ocean of creation .C-The Kumbh Mela /Maha Kumbh Mela is a time for spiritual seekers to meet with sadhus ,saints ,seers and religious gurus and learn from their wisdom. Maha Kumbh Mela symbolizes Indianness because of the following-A-Maha Kumbh or Kumbh Mela is a celebration of Indian culture ,traditions ,and history and demonstrates Indian cultures richness and beauty as well as its inclusivity which is famous all over the globe .B-The festival features processions ,devotional music ,and other cultural activities .C-The Maha Kumbh Mela is a time for people to come together and foster Indianness and experience the vibrancy ,dynamism and glory of Indian culture and its beauty as well as richness .During Maha Kumbh Mela people from various traditions and regions and languages meet with others who share their faith and culture .Social cohesion is ensured by Maha Kumbh Mela .This Mela is a time for people to engage in social and cultural activities ,such as shopping and attending cultural performances .Kumbh as well as Maha Kumbh plays a central spiritual role in the country ,exerting a mesmeric influence on ordinary Indians .The event encapsulates the science of Astronomy ,,ritualistic traditions ,and social and cultural customs and practices ,making it extremely rich in Knowledge .Kumbh and Maha Kumbh Mela is an important Hindu pilgrimage ,celebrated approximately every six and twelve years ,correlated with the partial or full revolution of Jupiter and representing the largest human /faith gathering in the world .At the heart of the Maha Kumbh lies the ritual of snan -holy bathing at the Triveni Sangam. It is believed that during this sacred period, taking a dip in the confluence purifies the soul ,absolves sins ,and helps devotees attain moksha -liberation from cycle of birth and death .Maha Kumbh Mela, world’s largest religious gathering is underway in India .The Maha Kumbh Mela has officially started in India on 13TH January,2025 with Paush Purnima Snan and will last till February 26, 2025 aligning with maha Shivratri .These sacred bathing rituals ,or Shahi Snans, are believed to purify the soul and wash away sins ,making them the spiritual highlights of the event. Maha Kumbh 2025 is considered to be an extraordinary event that takes place once 144 years at Prayagraj .This year’s Maha Kumbh is especially significant due to its alignment with rare celestial configuration that occurs once every 144 years ,amplifying its spiritual importance and drawing unprecedented numbers of pilgrims. This year’s celestial configuration -coupled with Uttrayana’s divine energy -are thought to magnify the spirituality of the holy bath ,making 2025 a particularly auspicious year for devotees. The Maha Kumbh Mela is not just a religious gathering ,it is a living embodiment of India’s rich spiritual heritage .The event showcases the coexistence of ancient traditions and modern aspirations ,bringing together sadhus ,scholars ,seers ,saints ,devotees and tourists alike. The Maha Kumbh Mela is a Hindu and Indian festival that is celebration of Indian culture, spirituality ,and country’s sacred rivers .This festival is based on a Hindu legend about a pitcher of immortality and is considered the world’s largest / gargantum gathering .Kumbh Mela /Maha Kumbh Mela is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth ,during which participants bathe or take a dip at a river /confluence of rivers Ganga ,Yamuna and mystical sarswati and it is widely believed that a dip at the sangam cleanses the soul and absolves the devotees of all sins and finally ensures salvation and thus this festival is of special religious and spiritual significance .The Maha Kumbh 2025’s importance is magnified by the confluence of rare planetary alignments .According to professor Jambhale ,Diana Eck ,in her exploration of Kumbh Mela ,connects its significance to the myth of amrita and the cosmic battle between gods and demons .She emphasizes how the celestial alignments during Maha Kumbh are seen as a divine moment for spiritual renewal and liberation. In his writings ,Mark Tully describes Kumbh Mela as ”a cultural phenomenon ”,underscoring its power to unite people from diverse traditions and backgrounds. It is not merely a religious event but a living heritage that showcases India’s cultural ,spiritual diversity. The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is poised to attract an estimated 45 crore devotees from across the globe ,making it one of the largest gatherings in human history. The event offers a unique opportunity for pilgrims to immerse themselves in centuries old rituals ,listen to discourses by revered saints ,and experience the vibrant spiritual and cultural ethos of India .In short Maha Kumbh Mela is the congregation of faith, spirituality ,cultural diversity ,India’s and human unity as well as Indianness.PM Modi has rightly opined that Maha Kumbh Mela is the festival of Indianness and it fosters spirit of Bharatiyata and so it can be truly called an event of Indianness besides being a largest gathering of faith.
