A ‘Maha’ spiritual journey

The Maha Kumbh, which commenced with a ‘shahi Shan’ on January 13 and will continue till February 26, has elevated India’s ancient cultural and religious traditions to global prominence. This year, the Maha Kumbh has an added significance to it as it falls during a rare celestial alignment that occurs only once in 144 years. This aspect is inspiring a significant number of devotees to embark on a holy pilgrimage.

Spiritual journey

For Lata Reddy, Director, Deepaditya Developers, the Kumbh Mela has always been a profound spiritual journey, a chance to reconnect with her roots, reflect inwardly, and cleanse both mind and soul. “What motivated me this time is not just the significance of the event itself but also the opportunity to witness how spirituality continues to thrive in India, blending the ancient with the modern,” says the past chairperson of the FICCI Ladies Organisation. She is among those who plan to visit other sacred sites such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Chitrakoot.

Ayodhya is at a distance of about 164 km from Prayagraj, Varanasi is 122 km away. As for Chitrakoot, it is about 130 km from Prayagraj — making it convenient for devotees to visit all the places in one go.
“With the newly constructed Ram Mandir and the beautifully renovated Kashi Vishwanath temple, there’s a renewed sense of devotion and pride in these timeless landmarks. Chitrakoot holds a serene charm and is a place I have always wanted to experience deeply.”

This entire circuit, feels Lata, is like a journey through India’s spiritual and cultural essence. “It’s not just about visiting temples or taking the holy dip — it’s about immersing oneself in the energy of these places and returning with a sense of
peace, purpose, and spiritual fulfilment,” says Lata, who attended the Kumbh Mela in 2013.
‘Humanity’

“What touched me the most about the Maha Kumbh is the goodness in humanity. The mega event is so well-organised that there is no pushing or groping. Entrepreneur Gunupati Hitha Reddy smiles, rekindling her belief in the human race. She says the positive energy at Maha Kumbh, the enlightened Sadhus, and people taking a dip to wash away their sins speak volumes. “People were giving way to others, waiting to help despite the vast crowds,” she says, adding that the event shows how humans innately want to be good. Hitha and her friend Divya Singh took Shahi Snan (Holy Dip) on Jan 14. “The energy was surreal — devotees, mystics, and monks converging with unique purposes. The Peshwai procession was as chaotic as it was grand, with people moving in all directions. Then came the Nagas — thousands of ash-covered, clothing-optional sadhus walking with absolute confidence, their presence radiating timeless spirituality. I felt an undeniable energy shift, a moment of awe at witnessing a tradition alive for thousands of years. Amid the crowd and chaos, the real highlight was the kindness of the people.

continued from page 1

From helpful policemen to volunteers offering directions, everyone was ready to lend a hand. I returned home elated, grateful, and full of positivity. The Kumbh was chaotic, magical, and deeply spiritual-a perfect reflection of life itself,” says entrepreneur Divya Singh.
Vani Subhas, the founder and owner of Hansa Holidays, even did an Insta post about the Maha Kumbh within her circle of friends and acquaintances which triggered a huge interest.

“We normally do customised luxury holidays within India and abroad. But we realised that the Maha Kumbh had caught the imagination and that there are many Hyderabadis wanting to experience this once-in-12-years event,” says Vani.
The bookings, she says, have been overwhelming, and she had to close down to keep groups small and manageable. “Some are doing the entire circuit of Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Chitrakoot, while others are choosing only Prayagraj. Women, as usual, are leading the way in this, although some couples have also made reservations,” she adds. Typically, they travel in small groups, accompanied by their office staff.

‘Well organised’

For Radhika Shastry, who attended the last four Kumbh Melas, it was a very well-organised mega event. “There are people who lead you over pontoon bridges to go and bathe at the ghat. Each year, the technological expertise seems to increase, and a significant amount of work goes into organising it, she says.
The Maha Kumbh is better managed. “No other country other than India can do it on such a large scale,” says Radhika, who even published a book of photographs titled Kumbh: The Greatest Show on Earth.

Having grown up in Dehradun, which is close to Haridwar, where a Kumbh Mela was held in 2021, she has been hearing the stories of the Naga Sadhus and Kumbh Mela since childhood.
“These childhood memories kept coming back to me, and I wanted to explore why they did. So in 2013, I decided to go for the Maha Kumbh in Allahabad,” she informs.

While Ayodhya is of huge significance to the Hindus, as it is the birthplace of Lord Ram, Kamadgiri Parvat in Chitrakoot is an equally important site where Lord Ram, Sita, and Laxman spent more than 11 years in exile. It is also the place where Bharat met Lord Ram and persuaded him to return to Ayodhya and accept the throne. People say the meeting of the brothers was so overwhelming that even the rocks and mountains of Chitrakoot melted.

Rarest Kumbh
in 144 years

THREE
GENERATIONS

UNSECO tag for the event
The Kumbh Mela has been recognised by UNESCO as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” underlining its global significance and cultural importance.