Politicisation Of Maha Kumbh Mela, Hinduism As Union Minister's Criticises Rahul Gandhi.

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings, is all set to conclude on Wednesday, February 26. The spiritual rituals and holy dip, once part of a traditional religious custom, now seem to take political colour as well. On Wednesday, BJP leader and Union Minister for Social Justice And Empowerment Ramdas Athawale slammed Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi, his family members, and Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray for not attending the religious festival.

The BJP leader said that since Rahul Gandhi and his family are Hindus, they should have attended Maha Kumbh, keeping people’s sentiments in mind. “Similarly, Uddhav Thackeray, being the son of Balasaheb Thackeray and a Hindu himself, did not visit. This is not a good thing, and we are quite disappointed,” the BJP leader was heard saying in a video shared by news agency PTI.

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VIDEO | Mumbai: Here’s what Union MoS Ramdas Athawale (@RamdasAthawale) said on the Thackeray and Gandhi families not visiting Maha Kumbh:

“More than 60 crore people have taken a holy dip there, and after 144 years, Maha Kumbh was held in Prayagraj, where Hindus from all over… pic.twitter.com/GzPUiBmXyg

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 26, 2025

Much like the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the ruling BJP is using centuries-old Kumbh Mela for its political mileage, observes many. A recent article by Delhi University History Professor Dr. Savita Jha shed light on how Hinduism, a traditionally diverse and pluralistic system of beliefs, has been moving towards a more codified, performative, and mandatory form, which is often the characteristic associated with Abrahamic religions.

Reflecting on the ongoing Maha Kumbh, Savita Jha, also a columnist, wondered what is happening to Hinduism, arguing it to be a departure from the organic, regionally diverse expressions of Hinduism. In the article published by Indian Express, the Delhi University professor points out that the visuals of people damaging rail windows and the choking of cities by crowds eager to take a holy dip are indicative of a turn from the traditional belief system. The article titled ‘Pluralism is the essence of Hinduism. Is it now becoming more performative?’ has stirred controversy, with right-wing outlets attacking the professor for sharing her insights.

Notably, many believe the ruling saffron dispensation is systematically exploiting Hinduism as a political tool to hang on to power. The denunciation of the Union Minister against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Sena UBT leaders for not visiting Maha Kumbh and the televised holy dip of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adithya Nath, among many others, is being viewed as part of the BJP’s mass mobilisation strategy.

Savita Jha argued that there has never been a single way to practice faith, and Kumbh Mela has never been traditionally the ultimate destination for pilgrimage. “It was a deeply spiritual journey, especially for the elderly. Many aged individuals, aware that their bodies were nearing the end of life, would undertake the yatra with a sense of detachment, much like the Jain practice of sallekhana — a voluntary, peaceful renunciation of life,” she wrote.

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However, as the ongoing Maha Kumbh ends, there have been multiple questions regarding the religious festival handling of the authorities and alleged mismanagement of the crowd in Prayagraj. The holy gathering saw unprecedented instances of irrational violence, chaos, and stampedes, claiming several lives. However, the ruling party, both in the state and at the centre, evaded responsibility for many of the event-induced disasters.

A report by Business Today quoted Prayagraj residents making an emotional appeal to visitors, urging them to stop coming to the city as the relentless Mahakumbh crowd continues to disrupt their daily lives, making the locals frustrated and exhausted.