2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela
 | |
 Nighttime view of the Kumbh Mela tents in 2025 | |
| Date | 13 January – 26 February 2025 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 44 days |
| Venue | Triveni Sangam |
| Location | Prayagraj |
| Coordinates | 26°25′52″N 82°53′06″E / 26.431°N 82.885°E |
| Also known as | Maha Kumbh Mela |
| Type | Social practices |
| Theme | Festive events |
| Cause | Rituals |
| Patrons | Ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis, and Pilgrims |
| Organised by | Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Authority |
| Website | kumbh |
| UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage | |
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
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The 2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela, also referred to as the 2025 Maha Kumbh, is the ongoing iteration of the Kumbh Mela. It is scheduled to take place from 13 January to 26 February, 2025, at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. This event marks the completion of a 12-year cycle and is officially termed a Maha Kumbh Mela, spanning 45 days.
This is the first Kumbh Mela since the renaming of the Kumbh Mela (held every 12 years) to Maha Kumbh Mela in 2017, following an Act passed by the Yogi Adityanath government.[1] The change in terminology has caused confusion in the media, with many mistakenly identifying it as the original Maha Kumbh Mela, which occurs once every 144 years. The last such 144-year Maha Kumbh Mela was held in 2013.[2]
The Kumbh Melas are a significant Hindu pilgrimage observed in cycles of three, six, 12, and 144 years, held in rotation among four sites: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik.[3][4] The site of each Kumbh Mela is decided by the astrological alignment of Jupiter (Guru), Sun (Surya), and Moon (Chandra).[5][6]
Significance
[edit]The Maha Kumbh Mela symbolises the victory of Gods over demons.[7] In 2025, the event started on 13 January and is expected to conclude on 26 February.[8][9]
The Maha Kumbh Mela is the world's largest peaceful congregation of people.[10] This gathering contains millions of devotees immersing themselves in the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mystical Saraswati, waters of which are considered holy by the Hindus, symbolising a purification of the soul and a path to attaining Moksha or liberation.[11] The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela has made preparations for the attendence of upto 40 million visitors[12] and will have visiting dignitaries from the United States, Israel, France, and other countries.[13][14]
Infrastructure
[edit]The Uttar Pradesh government has spent over ₹70 billion on infrastructure and sanitation projects for the Maha Kumbh Mela.[10] The Maha Kumbh 2025 Mela will have advanced fire fighting vehicles as for protection against any fire related incidents.[15][16] The Uttar Pradesh State Government will depute 500 dedicated Ganga Praharis to ensure the cleanliness of the river during Maha Kumbh.[17] Total cost of 83 project around mela area is estimated to be 1428.68 crore out of which 47 projects are completed by 15 November and rest are expected to be completed soon.[18] Artificial intelligence tools and chatbots are being used to assist tourists and pilgrims.[19]
Maha Kumbh 2025 Mela will be assisted by the "Mahakumbh Mela 2025 app" which has important locations of ghats, temples, and other major religious sites for the support of tourists and pilgrims.[20] Indian Railways has announced an increase in the number of coaches in key trains, such as the Prayagraj Express and Lucknow Mail, to accommodate the expected influx of pilgrims during the Mahakumbh 2025.[21]
Hygiene control
[edit]The Maha Kumbh 2025 Mela will have established cleaning standards with one sweeper for every 10 toilets and one supervisor monitoring a batch of 10 sweepers.[22] The Prayagraj Mela Authority has engaged nearly 10,000 sanitation workers to ensure a clean Maha Kumbh. Under the Swachh Kumbh initiative, the Prayagraj Mela Authority has set up around 150,000 toilets and urinals in the Maha Kumbh area. A compact manual sweeping machine has also been deployed to clean paved ghats, footpaths, roads, and public places within the mela area. Apart from installation of 150,000 toilets and urinals, a QR code-based monitoring system is being launched to track sanitation level in toilets.[23]
Health services
[edit]To ensure the well-being of attendees, comprehensive medical facilities are being set up:[24]
- 407 doctors and over 700 paramedical staff will be deployed
- 24-hour medical services with specialised care for women and children
- A 100-bed temporary central hospital will be established
Amrit Snan
[edit]
On the occasions of Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Vasant Panchami, Magh Purnima and Maha Shivaratri, the Amrit Snan (transl. Nectar Baths) or Shahi Snan are being held on 13 January, 14 January (First Shahi Snan), 29 January (Second Shahi Snan), 3 February (Third Shahi Snan), 12 February, and 26 February respectively.[25][26][27][28]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Press Trust of India (22 December 2017). "Bill to set up Prayagraj Mela Authority passed in UP Assembly". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ Butler, Stuart (16 January 2013). "India hosts the world's biggest gathering". BBC. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ Mishra, J. S. (2004). Mahakumbh, the Greatest Show on Earth. Har-Anand Publications. ISBN 978-81-241-0993-9.
- ^ Rodda, J. C.; Ubertini, Lucio (2004). The Basis of Civilization--water Science?. International Association of Hydrological Science. ISBN 978-1-901502-57-2.
- ^ "Celestial Alignments and Their Significance in Kumbh Mela". Nepa Rudraksha.
- ^ "Kumbh Mela, explained: Its mythology, history, astrology, and why millions flock to it". The Indian Express. 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Why You Should Travel To The World's Largest Religious Gathering". Times Now. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Maha Kumbh 2025 Mela: When will it start? Know the dates of royal bath, significance, and more". The Indian Express. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: How this event after 144 years is different from 3 other Kumbhs". India Today. 2025-01-07. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- ^ a b Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (2025-01-13). "India's Maha Kumbh Mela festival gets under way for first time in 144 years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- ^ "Home - Maha Kumbh Mela 2025". mahakumbh.in. 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- ^ "Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Live Updates: Kicking off Day 2, Akharas participate in 1st Amrit Snan on Makar Sankranti". The Indian Express. 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
- ^ "Kumbh: Global dignitaries & saints to attend Ganga aarti". The Times of India. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Yoon, John; Kumar, Hari (14 January 2025). "Maha Kumbh Mela: World's Largest Gathering Begins in India". The New York Times.
- ^ "Maha Kumbh 2025 to have 'fire bikes', offroaders as quick response vehicles | VIDEO". English.Mathrubhumi. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Mahakumbh:Fire safety measures to exceed Kumbh 2019 standards with doubled resources". hindustantimes.com. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Mahakumbh 2025: Prayagraj gears up with 500 Ganga Praharis to maintain river sanctity". The Times of India. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "47 of 83 Maha Kumbh projects completed". The Times of India. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Maha Kumbh 2025: UP steps up security, adds AI and chatbots for real-time assistance to travellers". The Times of India. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Streamlining pilgrimage in Prayagraj: Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 navigation app launched for visitors". The Times of India. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ info medias, the. "Mahakumbh 2025: Spiritual Festival and Indian Railway Updates". the info medias. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ^ "Maha Kumbh 2025: Advanced sanitation standards set to ensure clean and safe experience for devotees and tourists in Prayagraj". The Times of India. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "10,000 sanitation workers to make Kumbh clean & green". The Times of India. 2025-01-11. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- ^ "महाकुंभ-2025 : प्रयागराज में कुंभ मेला क्षेत्र में गाइनेकोलॉजिस्ट और पीडियाट्रिक शिफ्टवार 24 घंटे देंगे अपनी सेवाएं". ddnews.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "Maha Kumbh 2025: What is Amrit Snan and how to register for it online?". Business-standard. 9 Jan 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "Mahakumbh 2025: Over 1 crore take dip in Sangam on Day 1; first 'Amrit Snan' today as millions gather on Makar Sankranti". Hindustan Times. 2025-01-14. Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ "Kumbh Mela 2025: Know The Exact Dates From The Start To The Shahi Snan". news.abplive.com. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Mahakumbh 2025 FAQs". Economic Times. 13 January 2025. Archived from the original on 13 January 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
