MAHAKUMBH 2025

NOTWITHSTANDING the never ending debate about the beginning of the festival - year and founder - and the dates when it is to be held, there's general agreement that it was started by the 8th Century vedic scholar, philosopher, saint and teacher of Advaita Vedanta Adi Shankara Acharya and that the 12 yearly celebration dates are synchronised with every completed revolution of the planet Jupiter (Brahaspati); also that the venue is mostly in the river bank towns of Prayagraj (Allahabad) at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical invisible Saraswati, Haridwar (Ganga), Nasik (Godavari) and Ujjain (Shipra).

- By Krishan Kalra

The actual dates depend on various Zodiac calculations but generally, Prayagraj hosts it in the months of January or February, Haridwar between January and April, Nasik between August and September and Ujjain in the months of April or May. According to one version, Purna Kumbh happens every 12 years at a particular location, Ardh Kumbh every six years and Maha Kumbh every 144 years (12th Purna Kumbh). However, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced in 2019 that the 12-year celebration will be called 'Mahakumbh', the six-year ones 'Ardh-kumbh' and the three- yearly celebrations will be designated 'Kumbh'. He did not make any reference to the 144 years one, probably keeping in mind that the event - last held in 2001 - is a very long way off.

Anyway, without going into the controversies about the calendar, venue and dates (due to my inadequate knowledge of the subject), for this story I plan to delve only into the mind-boggling logistics and crowd management measures. With its complexities, the mega event - from 13 January to 26 February 2025-at Prayagraj, presents a humungous challenge for the government of UP and its successful completion - without any major mishap - would add yet another feather in the cap of Yogi Adityanath. He can proudly thump his chest and claim to the world “We can do it”!