A spiritual spectacle of faith begins

As dawn broke over the holy city of Prayagraj on a chilly Monday morning, the Maha Kumbh, the world's largest religious gathering, commenced with 1.5 crore devotees taking a sacred dip at the Sangam.

- BISWAJEET BANERJEE

The confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati became the focal point for millions seeking salvation, or moksha, and spiritual cleansing of their sins.

The spectacle transcends religion and culture, merging spirituality, astrology, tradition, and modernity. With over 40 crore people expected to attend the 45-day-long festival, the Maha Kumbh is an unparalleled event of devotion and logistical planning. The 2025 edition is particularly special, as seers claim that celestial alignments for this Kumbh occur once in 144 years, adding an extraordinary dimension to the gathering.

The sprawling Sangam area was a kaleidoscope of devotion. Pilgrims chanted "Jai Ganga Maiyya" and "Har Har Mahadev" as they made their way to the sacred waters in the pre-dawn darkness.

Among them were ashsmeared ascetics from Himalayan caves, religious seekers from India and abroad, and the spiritually curious drawn by the sheer magnitude of the event.

Thirteen Akharas representing various sects added to the grandeur as their processions filled the air with chants, conch sounds, and the rhythmic beat of drums. Former US Army soldier-turned-ascetic Baba Mokshapuri, now part of the Juna Akhara, reflected on his transformation. “Life is impermanent. This is my first Maha Kumbh, and the spiritual energy here is overwhelming,” he said.