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Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Begins After 144 Years

Held once every 12 years, people attend Maha Kumbh to take a dip in the sacred waters, believed to wash away sins and purify the soul.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, recognized as the world’s largest religious gathering, commenced on January 13, 2025, in Prayagraj, India. This year’s event is particularly notable as it occurs after 144 years, marking a unique occasion in the Kumbh Mela cycle, which typically happens every 12 years.

Authorities anticipate that approximately 400 million devotees will participate in the 45-day festival, which concludes on February 26, 2025. This is projected to be the largest crowd in the history of the event.

Hindu devotees from across the world arrive at the Triveni Sangam – a sacred confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati – in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to take a holy dip.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, associated with the legend of Samudra Manthan (the churning of the ocean), where drops of nectar were spilt at four locations—Prayagraj being one of them. Devotees believe that bathing in the sacred waters at the Triveni Sangam (the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers) purifies their souls and absolves them of sins.

To manage the influx of visitors, extensive security measures have been implemented, including police presence and surveillance technologies. Special facilities such as tents and medical services are also being provided to ensure safety and comfort for attendees.

As reported, special arrangements including floating police chowki (post), 1.5 lakh tents, drones, and 2,700 cameras with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities have been deployed to help devotees.

The festival promotes unity among diverse groups, attracting people from various backgrounds to celebrate spirituality and religious traditions together. Notable figures, including Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, also arrived for the Maha Kumbh Mela.

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