Maha Kumbh 2025 Begins with Over 50 Lakh Devotees Taking Sacred Dip Before Paush Purnima

The much awaited Maha Kumbh has arrived in the sacred land and has brought the hearts of devotees warm with its divinity. Devotees have given a warmth welcome to the sacred festival with more than 50 lakhs individuals taking the sacred bath on 12th of January, a day before the Paush Purnima at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and the Saraswati river in Mahakumbh Nagar day ahead of the first bathing festival, Paush Purnima, authorities said.

The Maha Kumbh attracts devotees from different parts of the world. Over 33 lakh pilgrims took dip on Saturday, 11th January alone, with a staggering 85 lakh performing the ritual over the past two days, according to officials.All 13 akharas, key representatives of Sanatan Dharma, have set up their camps, with Shri Panchayati Akhara Bada Udasin completing its procession entry on Sunday. The first Amrit Snan is set for January 14, marking Makar Sankranti.

The sacred day, the entire Hindu community from all over the world was waiting for has arrived. The Maha Kumbh festival embarks from the 13th of January and continues till the 26th of February. Maha Kumbh Mela is undoubtedly the biggest religious festival in the world and celebrated every 12 years at Prayagraj, where the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati converge. However, the Maha Kumbh in 2025 holds a special place in history and spirituality, as it aligns with an exceptionally rare celestial phenomenon that occurs only once every 144 years. This unique alignment of planets has heightened the anticipation and excitement among devotees, saints, and local residents alike. 400 million people are expected to arrive at the Mahakumbh this year. 

The 2025 Maha Kumbh is set apart by a rare celestial configuration that has not occurred in over a century. According to Mahant Harichaitanya Brahmachari, the head of TikarMafi ashram, this year’s event coincides with the alignment of the Sun, Moon, Jupiter, and Shani (Saturn) in a configuration linked to the legend of the Samudra Manthan, or the churning of the cosmic ocean. This alignment is further enriched by the occurrence of Pukh (Pushya) Nakshatra three hours before Amavasya on January 29, 2025.