PRAYAGRAJ, India — A massive gathering took place on Tuesday as tens of thousands of Hindu ascetics and millions of devotees plunged into the icy waters at the sacred confluence of rivers in northern India. This event marked the commencement of the Maha Kumbh festival, recognized as the largest religious assembly worldwide.
In a grand display, the ascetics, adorned in traditional attire and smeared with ash, marched and rode on chariots at sunrise toward the meeting point of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the legendary Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj. Armed with tridents, swords, and even two-headed drums, these holy figures, some with matted hair and garlands of marigolds, chanted hymns honoring Lord Shiva while proceeding to the bathing site, accompanied by singing, drumming, and the sound of horns.
Following the ascetics, millions of Hindu pilgrims joined the processional to partake in the cleansing ritual at the confluence. The Maha Kumbh festival, which occurs every 12 years, began on Monday and has already seen over 15 million participants bathing in the sacred waters, as reported by officials. Throughout the next six weeks, it is expected that this festival will attract more than 400 million visitors, many of whom will engage in elaborate religious practices.
Hindus hold a belief that immersing themselves in the confluence can absolve their sins and liberate them from the cycle of rebirth. Among the bathers was Venkatesh Ramaling, a technology expert from Pune, who expressed his admiration, stating, “It’s incredible to witness how individuals are diving into such cold water. Their unwavering faith inspires me.” He noted that after bathing, he experienced a sense of profound positivity.
The roots of this festival trace back to Hindu mythology, where the deity Vishnu is said to have taken a golden pitcher holding the nectar of immortality from demons. According to Hindu lore, droplets of this nectar fell in Prayagraj, Nasik, Ujjain, and Haridwar — the four cities historically associated with the Kumbh festival.
The festival rotates among these four significant pilgrimage sites every three years, with its timing dictated by the positions of the sun, moon, and Jupiter. This year’s celebration is being hailed as the most significant and grand event to date.
Authorities have constructed an extensive tent city along the riverbanks to host ascetics, pilgrims, and visitors attending the festival. To support this massive event, the government has allocated over $765 million, aiming to impress a predominantly Hindu audience and attract international visitors.
“It’s fascinating to see everyone with a unified purpose in their spiritual journey,” commented Stephen Barker, an artist from New York who attended the festival.
The temporary city features 3,000 kitchens and 150,000 toilets, with approximately 50,000 security personnel deployed to ensure safety and manage the crowds. On Tuesday, anxious devotees lined up at the riverbanks carrying necessities like clothing, blankets, and food, while others wheeled bags behind them. Entire families and groups from distant villages moved in orderly lines as security personnel cautioned against potential stampedes that have marred previous festivals.
Rajnish Diwedi, a senior police official overseeing security, mentioned the deployment of at least 2,700 cameras, including some utilizing artificial intelligence, to monitor crowd movements and density. This information is relayed to four central control rooms for immediate deployment of personnel where needed. Automated systems are in place to prevent chaotic scenes, he added.
Various groups of ascetics have established large camps at the festival site, drawing pilgrims eager to listen to spiritual teachings and engage in prayers. One group, known as Naga Sadhus, consists of ascetics revered as soldiers of the Hindu faith. Sri Digambar Ishwargiri, a Naga Sadhu from Junagadh, traveled approximately 1,600 kilometers to Prayagraj and emphasized the significance of bathing in the holy waters as a step towards salvation. He welcomed devotees seeking blessings, stating, “This is the sacred place for liberation; we protect our faith.”
While daily bathing occurs at the confluence, the most auspicious moments see ascetics charging into the waters at dawn. Many pilgrims remain at the festival for its entirety, practicing austerity, offering alms, and bathing at sunrise. Various rituals, including prayer, meditation, and yoga sessions, are organized by ascetics with the support of public funding.
