As they leave the water, the pilgrims often share one noticeable feature: a tilak, or sacred mark, adorning their foreheads. This tradition, widespread among the millions attending the festival, stems from the custom of Hindu priests who apply a mixture of sandalwood paste, turmeric, and sacred ashes to their skin. Each tilak has its own significance, symbolizing a connection to various deities within Hinduism, enriching the profound experience of the festival.
The Maha Kumbh festival serves as a celebration of diversity within Hindu traditions, embracing the rich tapestry of beliefs and rituals of the Hindu population, which makes up about 80% of India’s demographic. The marks on their foreheads represent shared faith while also highlighting the unique practices associated with different religious communities within Hinduism.
At the heart of the festival, numerous Hindu priests offer their services by painting these sacred symbols on the attendees. This is seen as a vital aspect of the pilgrimage, without which many believe the experience would be incomplete. “Even if you wash away your sins, if you leave without a tilak, all is in vain,” emphasizes priest Shiv Kumar Pandey, highlighting the integral nature of this ritual.
The tilak comes in various forms, transcending the simple vermilion dot often associated with Hindu culture. Pilgrims showcase a variety of designs: some choose three yellow lines, while others prefer two vertical white stripes with a contrasting center. There are also large red vertical marks and creative inscriptions of names of deities presented in both Hindi and English.
Seated near the riverbank, Pandey provides tilak services, carefully applying the paste with his fingers and stamping each forehead with symbols of the pilgrims’ chosen gods, whether it be Lord Shiva or Ram. In exchange for his blessings, the pilgrims offer tokens of appreciation like small coins, rice, pulses, and sometimes even blankets.
According to Pandey, the scriptures suggest that the tilak serves to “protect and purify the mind as well as the body,” reinforcing its deep spiritual significance.
The festival kicked off on January 13 and spans six weeks, with expectations of around 400 million attendees, predominantly from rural areas across the country. Many pilgrims are firm believers in the ritual that a dip in the sacred waters should always be complemented with the application of a tilak by a priest.
Among those participants was Sushila Chauhan, who found a quiet moment after her own holy dip, observing as fellow pilgrims immersed themselves in the water while chanting prayers. Her tilak bore the name “Mahakal,” a fierce representation of Lord Shiva, which she explained as significant because he embodies the balance of creation, preservation, and destruction.
Chauhan attended the festival with 52 family members, and as they received their tilaks from a passing priest, she expressed the profound benefits she felt from the practice. “It brings concentration, peace of mind, and fulfillment. It is a symbol of our faith,” she stated, encapsulating the sentiments shared by many gathered at this revered site.
