Mahakumbh 2025: India to host world’s biggest gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj

Mahakumbh Mela 2025, the year’s first biggest event of the world, will be hosted by India from January 13 to February 26 at Prayagraj in northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

What is Prayagraj Mahakumbh Mela?

The Mahakumbh mela or the festival of the sacred pitcher is a grand amalgamation of rituals with the bathing ceremony being the most significant of all.

The congregation in this primarily includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, sadhvis, kalpvasis and pilgrims from all walks of life.

The Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years. The geographical location of this congregation spans over four locations in India and keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimages on four sacred rivers.

1 - In Uttarakhand’s Haridwar on the banks of Ganges

2 - In Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain on the banks of Shipra

3 - In Maharashtra’s Nashik on the banks of Godavari

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4 - In Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical invisible Sarasvati.

The site for the celebration is decided based on a distinct set of astrological positions of the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter. The celebration commences at the exact moment when these positions are fully occupied as it is considered to be the holiest time in Hinduism.

In ancient Hindu mythology, the Mahakumbh Mela holds a profound inner meaning, serving as a symbolic journey of self-realisation, purification, and the eternal quest for spiritual enlightenment.

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Significance of bathing in Mahakumbh

Pilgrims from various parts of the world congregate to the Kumbh Mela to experience as well as take part in the ritualistic act of taking a holy dip in the sacred rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati.

It is believed to be more than a tradition and is said it is a spiritual purification, a symbolic cleansing of the body and soul.

Pilgrims believe that taking a holy dip in these sacred waters washes away physical impurities as well as purifies the mind and renews the spiritual connection with the divine.

It is also firmly rooted in the belief that by immersing oneself in the holy waters, one can cleanse themselves of all sins, liberate both themselves and their ancestors from the cycle of rebirth, and ultimately attain Moksha, or spiritual liberation.

Dates of Mahakumbh Snan

While it is considered sacred to take a dip in the holy waters throughout the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, starting from the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima, there are specific dates that hold special significance and they are:

Paush Purnima - January 13

Makar Sankranti - January 14

Mauni Amavasya - January 29

Basant Panchami - February 03

Maghi Purnima - February 12

Maha Shivratri - February 26

How grand will be Prayagraj Maha Kumbh?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that 40 crore devotees are expected to attend the 45-day Prayagraj Mahakumbh. He said, however, arrangements are being made to accommodate 100 crore people.

On the main Muhurta of Mauni Amavasya (January 29), an estimated six crore devotees will take a holy dip, but preparations will cater to 10 crore.

“The Mahakumbh will feature extensive facilities, including 12 km of ghats and an expanded area spanning 10,000 acres. Devotees will have the opportunity to experience the darshan of Char Dham, Dwadash Jyotirlingas, and other significant Jyotirlingas,” the CM said.

Adityanath further said that the event will integrate cutting-edge technology, including an AI-based Bhashini app in 11 Indian languages that would enable visitors to access information about the Kumbh and services like Khoya-Paya in their preferred language."

“The government plans to implement a precise headcount of every attendee and ensure a sustainable, eco-friendly event,” he said.

The CM went on to say that the Mahakumbh will feature zero liquid discharge systems, 1.50 lakh toilets, and a ban on single-use plastics.