Maha Kumbh, world's largest gathering, with 'shahi snan' in Prayagraj , Uttar Pradesh.

Mahakumbh 2025 Mela: The Maha Kumbh, the world's largest spiritual gathering, began with the 'Shahi Snan' at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, attracting 35 crore devotees. Massive arrangements are in place for the 45-day event, including heightened security and digital monitoring, with an estimated budget of Rs 7,000 crore.

World's biggest gathering of humanity, Maha Kumbh, started on Monday, paving the way for a 45-day event with the first major bathing ritual or 'Shahi Snan' on the auspicious occasion of 'Paush Purnima' at the Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati rivers in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.

The present edition of the Kumbh is being held after 12 years, though seers claim the celestial permutations and combinations for the event are taking place after 144 years, making the occasion even more auspicious. Perhaps that's why the Uttar Pradesh government is confident of 35 crore devotees visiting Prayagraj this time.

What lies behind Mahakumbh festival?

Devout Hindus believe taking a dip in the sacred waters absolves people of sins, and during the Kumbh Mela, it also brings salvation from the cycle of life and death.

The festival has its roots in a Hindu tradition that says the god Vishnu wrested a golden pitcher containing the nectar of immortality from demons.

In a 12-day celestial fight for possession, four drops fell to earth, in the cities of Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, which host the festival every three years by rotation. The Kumbh held once every 12 years in this cycle has the prefix 'maha' (great) as it is considered more auspicious due to its timing and attracts the largest gathering.

Maha arrangements for Mahakumbh:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh has said that 35 crore pilgrims are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela taking place in the vicinity of Sangam - the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. He also said that during the period of Mauni Amavasya, an estimated four-five crore devotees are expected to reach the holy city and participate in the festivities.

Singh said that the state budget for the 45-day-long mega event is around Rs 7,000 crore, and added that "the last Kumbh was known for sanitation. This time it is sanitation, security and digital Kumbh. "2019 was Kumbh. This is Maha Kumbh, and in the last Kumbh, we received 24 crore pilgrims, and this time we are expecting more than 35 crore pilgrims. Arrangements are also being made like that.

"The area of the Mela has increased by almost 25 per cent. This time it is being set up at around 4,000 hectares, while in the last Kumbh, it was set up in an area of around 3,200 hectares," Singh told PTI in an interview.

Elaborating on the security and safety aspect, he said, "There are more than 55 police stations, and around 45,000 police personnel are getting deployed there on duty. Projects have also been sanctioned to monitor the social media continuously, so that nobody does any mischief. If anything untoward is coming up on social media, it should be identified, isolated and tackled... There is excellent coordination between the institutes of the Centre and the state government."

Meanwhile, the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj has become major attractions for businesses. Companies have allocated almost 70% of their overall spends on the Kumbh centred around these six holy dips, and are amplifying marketing on social media platforms as well as collaborating with influencers to drive brand engagement, ET reported.

What is Mauni Amavasya? Why Is It Special for Mahakumbh?

Mauni Amavasya in 2025 encourages spiritual growth through silence, introspection, and honouring ancestors with rituals like Pitru Tarpan and sacred baths. It is particularly auspicious during the Maha Kumbh Mela, where millions gather for transformative rituals. The day fosters deep personal and spiritual renewal.

Mauni Amavasya, also called Maghi Amavasya, is a highly significant day that falls on the new moon of the month of Magha in the Hindu calendar. It is observed this year on January 29, 2025. The word "Mauni" comes from the Sanskrit word "mauna," or silence. People observe this day with introspection and spiritual discipline since rituals are practiced to commemorate ancestors.

The crowd of Maha Kumbh