Opinion | For ‘Aastha’ Or To Overcome FOMO, You Won’t Return From Mahakumbh Unchanged
The Mahakumbh will ignite a spiritual spark. It will reaffirm the belief in Bharat, a land that has faced countless attacks throughout history, striving to preserve its Sanatani identity
Close to 50 crore people are reported to have visited the Mahakumbh by February 12, 2025. However, the accuracy of these numbers has been questioned. Who is keeping track, and how are the counts being recorded? This skepticism is often accompanied by images circulating on social media that portray the cleanliness of the event poorly, showing slippers and clothes littering the waterbody and questioning whether anyone would want to take a dip in such waters.
Additionally, there are notable highlights of traffic jams and incidents of broken train windows as people tried to enter reserved compartments to attend the Mahakumbh, as also the tragic ones of the New Delhi Railway Station stampede indicating significant mismanagement on the part of the authorities who did not adequately address the needs of the devotees.
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Criticism often comes from those who have not attended the Mahakumbh themselves or are politically motivated to emphasise only the negatives, especially during the grand celebrations of the Kumbh, organised under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
My thoughts were interrupted by a call from author and commentator Shantanu Gupta right after the inaugural of the Mahakumbh, mid-January, inquiring whether I had taken the holy dip. I felt a sense of guilt for not planning a visit, especially with the soaring crowds every passing day. I replied, “Not yet, but I would love to."
As though it was destined to happen, an invitation to the first Kulture Kumbh, curated by Shefali Vaidya, Shantanu Gupta, and Pushkar Sharma at Parmarth Niketan, Prayagraj, under the blessings of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji and Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati ji, saw me packing my bags to Prayag. Yet, mixed reports on social media and from news agencies continued to worry me.
Then came the unfortunate incident on Mauni Amavasya, adding to the fear of the unknown for someone like me, who had never attended a Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh before.
After making a few more calls and getting friendly taunts in return, about needing to experience it for myself to know what the ground reality is, I hesitantly packed my bags with essential items, mindful of the long distances I might need to walk.
Upon landing at a newly constructed airport, we were welcomed by a unique character of an ancient city and a vibrance of festivities in the air. The drive from the airport to the Parmarth Ashram was led by the cheerful paintings decorating the walls of parks and public spaces. The fervour and joy were infectious. Our friend driving us to the venue shared the history of the Company Garden, the origin of ‘Lete Hanumanji’ and several other lesser-known historical aspects, as we journeyed to the ghats where we would stay.
As soon as we reached, we were invited to meet Swamiji and Sadhviji, a kick-off to the festival. The next two days would be filled with conversations around the history and culture of Bharat, featuring some of the brightest minds and most accomplished individuals in the country. A perfect setting amidst the backdrop of a grand celebration of the only civilisation that continues to exist even after several thousands of years.
It was essential to prepare for a whirlwind of ideas that would constitute a “kumbh of knowledge," while also letting go of the chaos of city life to embrace the discipline of ashram living.
Mornings began with prayers and holy dips, involving cold baths before morning rituals, invigorating daytime sessions, long queues for meals in a communal setting, and searching for tea vendors outside the ashram for snacks between meals. Evenings saw us gathering with thousands on the ghats of the River Ganga for aarti, followed by strolls on the ghats to local tea and food stalls. We would find ourselves falling asleep to the sounds of bhajans throughout the night.
Each evening, when I ventured out to find a cup of tea and something to eat, I stepped into the vibrant world of the Kumbha Mela. It was a space filled with people from all walks of life, walking for miles and riding bikes to navigate quickly through the crowd. Families carried bundles of clothes, with children on their hips and elderly parents on their backs. The streets and ghats were flooded with a mix of young and old, some dressed while others ran in wet clothes, their bare bodies contrasting against the evening chill.
As the aarti began at the ghats, most people were drawn there. The water appeared calm, undeterred by the crores of people bathing in it for weeks. Sadhus, with ash smeared on their faces and bodies, and some carrying snakes around their necks, walked about, offering blessings to anyone who bowed and passed by. The akharas existed in a realm beyond imagination, where those who have renounced ordinary lives gathered from across the world, chanting mantras. The babas possess a quirky sense of humour that is unique to those who have experienced the spiritual realm.
The sight of the bright lights made every corner, both inside and outside the water, visible. Clothes were strewn about, and changing enclosures were provided every few steps. Tea stalls buzzed with activity, as did temporary shops selling their sacred wares. People were engaged in seva for travelers, providing them kadhas, tea and food.
Amidst this chaos, the sounds that filled the air were of laughter, easy conversations, and chants in various accents—black, brown, and white—mingling with the sight of clean beaches. Workers tirelessly tried to keep the water clear of non-biodegradable offerings, accompanied by the gulls. It was the first time I could see my feet in the water of the Yamuna at the Ghat. Ropes kept the walkers and hawkers in their designated areas. The ramp for bikes and cars, located right next to the ghats, was in use, and announcements were made by those overseeing the waters, often filled with lighthearted poetry cautioning jaywalkers. The white sand reflected the hues of the setting sun, and bhajans filled the air with positivity, allowing you to disconnect from the entire world.
I went for a holy bath twice: once at the Arail Ghat and the second time at the confluence, known as the Triveni Sangam. The boatman, a Kevat, shared the history of the Samudra Manthan and the significance of bathing in the Sangam. Like a trained tour guide, he pointed out where the confluence occurred and explained the difference in the colours of the two rivers. What resonated with me was how the Ganga flowed with ripples and waves, while the Yamuna flowed quietly.
The water, which many assumed would be dirty, washed away all preconceived notions about the Mahakumbh. The holy dip serves as a great leveller, making you feel part of a universe of people who uphold their beliefs and faith without harming others. It’s a moment where you realise how free and equal Sanatanis are at birth, and how collectively powerful we all are, in life.
What the West packages as inclusivity, equality, and frugality is something we Sanatanis have practiced and ingrained in ourselves for thousands of years.
The organisation of the Mahakumbh is a remarkable feat. Yogi Adityanath has done a fine job with the administration, driven by his own strong belief in Sanatan, which is evident in the scale of the Mahakumbh.
Is everything perfect? No, because perfection can never be achieved in any event, no matter how small. What we often forget is that the Kumbh occurs every 12 years. Over the last 12 years, much has changed about Bharat. Perceptions have shifted, exposure has increased, and expectations have evolved. This Mahakumbh sets a benchmark for what has been accomplished and what still needs to be improved.
It is, by far, the largest festival on the planet, attracting an immense crowd. It is also the largest commercial endeavour for locals, many of whom will earn enough to support themselves until the Ardh Kumbh. This event serves as a significant marketing initiative that establishes Bharat as the spiritual capital of the world.
What is needed most is effort from the people, rather than just the administration. We must avoid leaving behind clothes, slippers, and offerings in non-biodegradable containers. It is as much our responsibility to keep these holy places clean as it is for the administration to ensure comfortable access, adequate restrooms and changing rooms, and safety options. Additionally, we need to eliminate VIP culture, which can make routes and bridges inaccessible for regular people. Better alternatives should be developed to reduce congestion in the city and along the ghats, especially on special days.
In the times of our grandparents, teerths were visited with great tapa, involving significant effort as an offering to please the gods. When those on teerth yatras travelled to places like Kedarnath and Gangotri, it was considered divine if they returned alive. Therefore, only elders or those who had renounced worldly attachments would undertake such journeys. Elders returning from the teerths would distribute prasad and money to the younger members of the family. Today, the accessibility has improved manifold and so has the numbers of those visiting it. Therefore, it’s more important to strengthen the public-private partnership to keep our teerths free from waste, especially hazardous waste.
It is encouraging to see that we, as the people of Bharat, have come a long way in demanding and expecting better from our government. Criticism is natural and beneficial, as it ensures improvements for the future. Much of the unwarranted criticism comes from the privileged—those of us who enjoy access to RO water in our bathrooms, luxurious facilities, and the means to buy luxuries even at the Mahakumbh. For much of Bharat, people are ecstatic at the opportunity to take a holy dip during the Mahakumbh that occurs only once every 144 years.
What is labelled as collective amnesia is, in fact, a collective sense of oneness with the divine, accessible only to those fortunate enough to experience it.
At this Mahakumbh, you become part of a history that will help keep this great civilisation alive and thriving. As Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati ji said, “You are here for aastha, not for vyavastha!" This line is so powerful; it truly stays with you. Vyavastha or arrangements is an added bonus. The people of faith have been visiting the Kumbhs and Mahakumbhs for exactly that-their faith!
Social media has added to the FOMO but even for that, those visiting would return transformed. It will ignite a spiritual spark. It will reaffirm the belief in Bharat, a land that has faced countless attacks throughout history, striving to preserve its Sanatani identity. This enduring spirit ensures that Bharat will never fade away.
The writer is the founder of MarketMyBook, a leading publicity and digital marketing agency. She is also the founder of The Indic Pen, a premium speaking platform on Indic ideas. She tweets @LipikaB. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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