Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: One of the world’s largest religious gatherings, the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, at the sacred Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh began today. Held at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, the event draws millions worldwide, and it will conclude on February 26.

Kickstarting the Mela, devotees took a holy dip at dawn at the riverbank braving the chilling 10 degrees Celsius cold. They are expected to stay in tents and bathe in the river while camping on the Ganga riverbank. Organised every 12 years at Pragraj, Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is more special not only because of its religious significance but also because of the rare celestial alignment that occurs only once in 144 years, marking the paramount significance of the notable day.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath, among others, have hailed the event, and the state DGP, Prashant Kumar, on Monday morning said that approximately 60 lakh people have already taken the holy dip, stating that the police are committed to ensuring that this Kumbh is “grand, divine, digital, and above all, safe.”

Origin And History Of Kumbh Mela

There are multiple beliefs regarding the festival’s origin, including the claims that the event is mentioned in the Vedas and Puranas, with some stating that it is more of a recent ritual. It is believed that the Kumbh Mela is a mixture of myths, history, and enduring faith of an ancient people. According to Professor Girija Shankar Shastri, head of Banaras Hindu University’s (BHU) Department of Jyotish, no scripture can be definitively said to contain a reference to the Kumbh Mela as known today. “The Skanda Purana is widely cited to explain the origins of the Kumbh Mela, but those references have not survived in the extant versions of the Purana,” he adds, The Indian Express quotes.

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However, many believe that it was 8th-century Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya who established these four periodic Kumbh Mela, where Hindu ascetics and scholars could meet, discuss, and disseminate ideas and teach lay people. The event is also considered the venue where Sadhus and other holy men gather. Moreover, there are many other explanations and theories associated with the practice.

What Devotees Do During Kumba Mela? 

Many may have seen pilgrims going to Kumbh Mela fully naked, and it is mostly those holy Hindu men, known as Naga sadhus, who participate in the festival while naked or wearing only a loincloth. They will be seen unkempt, ash-covered, and fully naked. However, it is not a mandatory practice, as laypeople usually do not appear fully naked.

Expecting salvation and washing away their sins, devotees take ritual dips in the rivers, earning spiritual credits, away from the material run for resources. Many also provide donations, seeking Punya. “Donating a kumbh full of ghee or other things here can also bring punya. Devotees can meet holy men and get religious and spiritual guidance.