The 2025 Mela is significant because of the celestial permutations this year which occur only once in 144 years; over 400 million expected to attend the 45-day event; millions brave the cold to take a dip in the holy Ganga in Prayagraj on January 13
January 13, 2025 - Millions of devotees braved the bitter cold in Uttar Pradesh to take a holy dip in the river Ganges this morning marking the beginning of the Maha Kumbh Mela. Touted as the world’s largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela pilgrimage is held every 12 years exclusively in Prayagraj, although the Kumbh Mela takes place in four separate places every three years.
This year the Maha Kumbh Mela is particularly special because of an unusual cosmic alignment that only happens once every 144 years. This makes Mahakumbh 2025 even more significant apart from its religious significance.
Seers say that this year, the celestial permutations and combinations for the event are rare and occur once every 144 years. Therefore, the occasion is considered even more auspicious with special alignment of the sun, moon and Jupiter. More than 400 million devotees are expected to be present this year for the event which will be held over 45 days. This figure is being regarded as a record high in the history of the Mela.
The Maha Kumbh began with the Shahi Snan on Paush Purnima with devotees taking a dip in the holy waters amid chants of bhajans and slogans. According to a UP government statement, “Till 9.30 am, around 60 lakh pilgrims had taken dip.”
The government said that a large number of devotees from India and abroad were seen at the Sangam Ghat in Prayagraj city of Uttar Pradesh, home to the Triveni Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. Pilgrims present included those from the Indian States of Bihar, Haryana, Bengal, Odisha, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
The Mela budget is estimated at around Rs 6,382 crore. According to a Mela official, the UP government stands to earn more than Rs 25,000 crore from the event.
“The worth of this financial activity could be an underestimation of the actual figure,” according to Awanish Awasthi, Advisor to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and former IAS officer. “If one pilgrim spends Rs 8,000 for Maha Kumbh, the number would cross Rs 3.2 lakh crore going by the expected footfall”, he added.
The government has done intense preparation for the Mela providing all facilities for the pilgrims. thousands of underwater and aerial drones will be deployed to assist in monitoring security and movement. A Kumbh Mela mobile app has been launched which will help pilgrims navigate the 15-square mile (40-square kilometre) maze of temples, bathing spots, food stalls, medical tents and missing persons booths.
To assist in searching for a separated person, each pilgrim will receive a radio frequency bracelet to aid in locating individuals who have gone missing.
Additionally, a light show with more than 2,000 drones will brighten the skies with stories from Hindu mythology.
With Media Inputs
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