2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela

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2025 Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela
Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 Logo.jpg
Laser show, Mahakumbh 2025 - Prayagraj.jpg
Laser show, Mahakumbh 2025
Date13 January – 26 February 2025 (2025-01-13 2025-02-26)
Duration44 days
Venue Triveni Sangam
Location Prayagraj
Coordinates 26°25′52″N82°53′06″E / 26.431°N 82.885°E / 26.431; 82.885
Also known asMaha Kumbh Mela
TypeSocial practices
ThemeFestive events
CauseRituals
PatronsAscetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis, and Pilgrims
Organised byPrayagraj Kumbh Mela Authority
Website kumbh.gov.in
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

The 2025 Prayag Kumbh Mela, also referred to as the 2025 Maha Kumbh, is the ongoing iteration of the Maha Kumbh Mela. It is scheduled to take place from 13 January to 26 February 2025, at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. This event marks the completion of a 12-Kumbh Mela cycle and is officially termed a Maha Kumbh Mela, spanning 45 days. [1]

Contents

Since the Kumbh Mela has been organized for ages and its commencement date is unknown, calculating the exact 144-year cycle is not certain. However, as per astronomical calculations, the 2025 Mahakumbh Mela is unique in itself since its constellation alignment is witnessed once every 144 years.Thus, the most auspicious of all the Maha Kumbh in the past 144 years is in 2025. [2] [3] [4] [5]

The Kumbh Melas are a significant Hindu pilgrimage observed in cycles of three, six, 12, and 144 years, held in rotation among four sites: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. [6] [7] The site of each Kumbh Mela is decided by the astrological alignment of Jupiter (Guru), Sun (Surya), and Moon (Chandra). [8] [9]

Significance

The Maha Kumbh Mela symbolises the victory of Gods over demons. [10] In 2025, the event started on 13 January and is expected to conclude on 26 February. [11] [12]

The Maha Kumbh Mela is the world's largest peaceful congregation of people. [13] This gathering contains millions of devotees immersing themselves in the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mystical Saraswati, waters of which are considered holy by the Hindus, symbolising a purification of the soul and a path to attaining Moksha or liberation. [14] The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela has made preparations for the attendance of up to 400 million visitors [15] and will have visiting dignitaries from the United States, Israel, France, and other countries. [16] [17] [18]

Infrastructure and revenue generation

Nighttime view of the Kumbh Mela tents Kumbh6.jpg
Nighttime view of the Kumbh Mela tents

Maha Kumbh's budget stands at nearly 64 billion ( 6,382 crore) and it is estimated that Maha Kumbh 2025 will generate a revenue of more than 2 trillion ( 2 lakh crore) for Uttar Pradesh. [19] [20]

The Maha Kumbh 2025 Mela will have advanced fire fighting vehicles as for protection against any fire related incidents. [21] [22] The Uttar Pradesh State Government will depute 500 dedicated Ganga Praharis to ensure the cleanliness of the river during Maha Kumbh. [23] Total cost of 83 project around mela area is estimated to be 1428.68 crore out of which 47 projects are completed by 15 November and rest are expected to be completed soon. [24] Artificial intelligence tools and chatbots are being used to assist tourists and pilgrims. [25]

Maha Kumbh 2025 Mela will be assisted by the "Mahakumbh Mela 2025 app" which has important locations of ghats, temples, and other major religious sites for the support of tourists and pilgrims. [26] Indian Railways has announced an increase in the number of coaches in key trains, such as the Prayagraj Express and Lucknow Mail, to accommodate the expected influx of pilgrims during the Mahakumbh 2025. [27]

Hygiene control

The Maha Kumbh 2025 Mela will have established cleaning standards with one sweeper for every 10 toilets and one supervisor monitoring a batch of 10 sweepers. [28] The Prayagraj Mela Authority has engaged nearly 10,000 sanitation workers to ensure a clean Maha Kumbh. Under the Swachh Kumbh initiative, the Prayagraj Mela Authority has set up around 150,000 toilets and urinals in the Maha Kumbh area. A compact manual sweeping machine has also been deployed to clean paved ghats, footpaths, roads, and public places within the mela area. Apart from installation of 150,000 toilets and urinals, a QR code-based monitoring system is being launched to track sanitation level in toilets. [29]

Health services

To ensure the well-being of attendees, comprehensive medical facilities are being set up: [30]

Amrit Snān occasions

view of the Amrit Snan Kumbh Mela mhaakuNbh.jpg
view of the Amrit Snan Kumbh Mela

Amrit Snan (transl.Nectar Baths) or Shahi Snan are being held as follows: [31] [32]

Date (Gregorian)Date (Panchanga)Bathing countOccasion
13th JanuaryFirst Pausha Purnima
14th JanuarySecond Makara Sankranti
29th JanuaryThird Mauni Amavasya
3rd FebruaryFourth Vasanta Panchami
12th FebruaryFifth Magha Purnima
26th FebruarySixth Maha Shivaratri

See also

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References

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