In the Embrace of the Kumbh

MAHA KUMBH 2025 began with diversity and grandeur. Its scale is grand because more than 40 crore people are expected to participate in this mega celebration of Sanatana Dharma and sanskriti (culture and tradition). The grandeur is reflected also in the estimates of the numbers it attracts from among various castes and communities, ethnic groups and religions over a month. It’s not a gathering of merely Indians; the Kumbh attracts people from countries across the world. It’s a confluence of people from the East and West, from the Global North and South. Despite being overtly a Hindu festival, one finds at the Kumbh Mela people of different creeds participating in their own ways. The Maha Kumbh used to take place in different parts of India, such as Hardwar, Ujjain and Nasik. But this time, it is happening in Prayagraj.

The Maha Kumbh is essentially associated with bathing and the river offers space to everyone to bathe in it. The waters do not discriminate or exclude anyone on grounds of caste, creed and identity, accommodating all kinds of human beings. If one observed the inclusiveness of the river, one may also observe that these rivers welcome not only humans but various species on the planet.

Again, the Maha Kumbh creates a huge space for temporary economic exchange which generates livelihood for people of various castes and communities. Such exchange involves big corporate to rag pickers. It includes sweepers, chatwalas (snack sellers), flower sellers, blanket

sellers, vermillion sellers, magicians, bhalu-bandar nachanewale (people with dancing bears and monkeys), as well as sellers of various goods needed by the kalpvasis for their month-long stay in the Maha Kumbh complex of Prayagraj. It’s estimated that this year’s Maha Kumbh market in all its aspects may generate business worth ₹200 crore.

It’s well-known that the Maha Kumbh Mela is organised by three important stakeholders— the state, the people, and Sanatani religious organisations. The various akharas of Hinduism participate in this fair with their disciples and followers. Such disciples constitute people of various caste groups and communities, from Brahmins to Dalits, priests to yajman (the host), deshaj (indigenous) people to NRIs and PIO (people of Indian origin). It’s a fact that Sanatana akharas are very visible at the Maha Kumbh but it’s interesting to observe other Indian religious sects like Kabirpanthis, Ravidasis, Buddhists and even some Sikh sects also participating and setting up their camps. These groups, like the Sanatani akharas, also organise bhandaras and bathe in the Ganges. Some of these sects have a strong influence on backward castes and Dalits. One can also find transgender akharas at Maha Kumbh 2025. These transgender akharas organise their performances and pravachanas (messages) freely.

Thus it is interesting to observe the inclusion of all at the Kumbh in the same space. This space produces multiple meanings. Historically, it was a space where kings, saints and the people sat together and discussed public and religious well-being across India. If one were to analyse the structure of the akharas, one would find saints from various castes and regions in one space. For instance, the saints, yogis and Naga sadhus of various Sanatani panths participate in the Kumbh. These adhyatmik (spiritual) sadhus are beyond the categories of caste dominant in our society. It reminds me of the saying: jati na puchho sadhu ki (do not ask the caste of a sadhu).

The confluence of rivers in Hindu tradition where most melas used to be held were an inclusive space due to their geographical, cultural and religious nature. In this sense, the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj is all-inclusive, reflecting the broadness of Sanatani traditions.

The state, communities and religious organisations are working together to preserve this inclusive nature of Maha Kumbh 2025. We all need to come here with a broad mind, understand the breadth of the rivers, and immerse ourselves.

faithHinduismIndian RepublicMaha Kumbh 2025Prayagrajreligious places