Prayag Kumbh: Forum For Emergence Of Ideas

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the Kumbh Mela in India to be in the ‘Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ during its 12th session being held at Jeju, South Korea from 4-9 December, 2019.

- Dr. P. K. Agrawal

Crores of people congregate in Kumbh at Prayagraj (earlier Allahabad) during these religious fairs not only to seek divine grace but also accumulate divine knowledge and attain spirituality.

Apart from crores of pilgrims, lakhs of foreign tourists also become the part of the congregation that is held at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. Many saints and religious leaders assemble in this fair as well. Their sermons are well-attended by devotees, who go back enriched and enlightened. Visiting this religious fair often marks the beginning of a spiritual journey for many attendees who embark on a new journey of forgiveness and universal brotherhood. During this Kumbh at Prayag, the following religious and spiritual issues are likely to be discussed.

At Individual level

At present, an individual is at crossroads whether to follow the tenets of religion or to indulge in material life in violation of settled norms of morality and disciplined life as ordained in the religious scriptures. Norms of morality and conduct are flagrantly being violated by the leaders including politicians, bureaucrats and even religious leaders.