Where faith and determination meet

The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage festival that takes place in India every 12 years at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Interfaith Officer Shirley Murphy describes the experience.

For many Hindu pilgrims, bathing at the festival where three holy rivers meet is the spiritual journey of a lifetime. The pilgrims come, millions upon millions, in an unrelenting tide, forming one of the largest religious gatherings in history.

It’s based on the belief that bathing in the sacred rivers cleanses sins, brings people closer to spiritual liberation and bestows blessings that last for generations. Pilgrims make the trip not just for themselves but for their children and grandchildren.

Day after day, the crowd swells, pressed closely together. They make their way through a sea of people, treading carefully down the slope before reaching the riverbank. At times they lean on bystanders to steady themselves, at other times they run the risk of trampling those around them.

It is celebrated when Jupiter is in the sign of Aquarius (Kumbh). This year, that was from January 13 to February 26 at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, one of four cities where the festival takes place.

In Hindu mythology, during the sagar manthan or churning of the ocean of milk by gods and demons, a fierce battle erupted over the amrit (nectar of immortality). In this cosmic struggle, the gods spilled four drops of the nectar of immortality on Earth and, when the Moon and Jupiter align, the Ganga and the Yamuna are joined by a mystical river called Saraswati, meeting at the points where the divine nectar fell.

The 45-day festival attracted some 400 million people, a staggering number that dwarfs the two million pilgrims who journeyed to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage last year.

The pilgrimage site was turned into a sprawling tent city, stretching over 40sq km along the riverbanks and divided into 25 sections to provide smoother management. There were over 3,000 kitchens, 150,000 toilets and 11 hospitals. Indian Railways ran more than 90 special trains, making nearly 3,300 trips to transport the devotees, in addition to its regular services.

Saints, yoga enthusiasts, travellers, photographers and believers from around the world come to the Maha Kumbh Mela for different reasons. Some are drawn to the vibrant cultural performances, the captivating displays of folk art and traditional cuisines, and the chance to immerse themselves in vibrant Indian culture. Others consider it a unique opportunity to encounter sadhus, holy men with austere lifestyles, offering a glimpse into ancient spiritual traditions.

Many people say the Maha Kumbh Mela experience will always stay with them because of the sheer faith, determination, and enthusiasm of many people vying for a dip in the sacred water.