The Mahakumbh has successfully concluded in the holy city of Prayagraj. A grand Mahayajna of Unity has been completed. When the consciousness of a nation awakens, breaking free from centuries-old shackles of subjugation, it breathes freely in the fresh air of renewed energy. This resurgence was witnessed at the Ekta Ka Mahakumbh (Mahakumbh of Unity) in Prayagraj on January 13.
On January 22, 2024, during the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, I spoke about Devbhakti and Deshbhakti—devotion to the divine and the nation. During the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, deities, saints, women, children, youth, senior citizens, and people from all walks of life came together, showcasing the awakened consciousness of the nation. This was Ekta Ka Mahakumbh, where the sentiments of 140 crore Indians converged at the same place and time for this sacred occasion.
In this holy region of Prayagraj lies Shringverpur, a sacred land of unity, harmony, and love, where Lord Shri Ram and Nishadraj met. Their meeting symbolized the confluence of devotion and goodwill. Even today, Prayagraj inspires us with the same spirit.
For 45 days, I witnessed crores of people from every corner of the country making their way to the Sangam. The wave of emotions at the confluence kept rising. Every devotee came with one purpose—to take a dip in the Sangam. The holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati filled every pilgrim with enthusiasm, energy, and confidence.
This Mahakumbh in Prayagraj is a subject of study for modern management professionals, planners, and policy experts. Nowhere in the world is there a parallel or example of this scale. The world watched in wonder as crores of people gathered at Prayagraj on the banks of the confluence of rivers. These people had no formal invitations, and no prior communication on when to go. Yet, crores left for the Mahakumbh of their own accord and experienced the bliss of taking a dip in the sacred waters.
I cannot forget those faces radiating immense joy and satisfaction after the holy dip. Women, elders, our Divyang brothers and sisters—everyone found a way to reach the Sangam.
It was particularly heartening to see the overwhelming participation of India’s youth. The presence of the younger generation at the Mahakumbh sends a profound message that the youth of India will be the torchbearers of our glorious culture and heritage. They understand their responsibility towards preserving it and are committed to carrying it forward.
The number of people who arrived in Prayagraj for this Mahakumbh has undoubtedly created new records. But beyond those physically present, crores who could not reach Prayagraj were also deeply connected emotionally to the occasion. The sacred water brought back by pilgrims became a source of spiritual bliss for millions. Many returning from the Mahakumbh were received with respect in their villages, and honoured by society.
What has happened in the last few weeks is unprecedented and has laid a foundation for centuries to come.
More devotees arrived in Prayagraj than anyone had imagined. The administration had estimated attendance based on past experiences of the Kumbh. Nearly twice the population of the United States participated in this Ekta Ka Mahakumbh.
If scholars of spirituality analyze the enthusiastic participation of crores of Indians, they will find that India, proud of its heritage, is now surging ahead with newfound energy. I believe this is the dawn of a new era, which will script the future of a new India.
For thousands of years, the Mahakumbh has strengthened India’s national consciousness. Every Purnakumbh witnessed gatherings of saints, scholars, and thinkers deliberating upon the state of society in their times. Their reflections provided a new direction to the nation and society. Every six years, during the Ardhkumbh, these ideas were reviewed. After 12 Purnakumbh occurrences spanning 144 years, obsolete traditions were abandoned, newer ideas were embraced, and new traditions were created to move ahead with the times.
After 144 years, in this Mahakumbh, our saints have once again given us a new message for India’s development journey: Developed India—Viksit Bharat.
At this Ekta Ka Mahakumbh, every pilgrim—rich or poor, young or old, from villages or cities, from India or abroad, from the East or the West, from the North or the South, irrespective of caste, creed, and ideology—came together. This was an embodiment of the vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat that instilled confidence in crores of people. Now, we must come together in the same spirit for the mission of building a developed India.
I am reminded of the incident where, as a little boy, Shri Krishna revealed a snapshot of the whole universe within His mouth to His mother Yashoda. Similarly, in this Mahakumbh, the people of India and the world have witnessed the massive potential of India’s collective strength. We must now move forward with this self-confidence and dedicate ourselves to building a developed India.
Earlier, the saints of the Bhakti movement had identified and encouraged the strength of our collective resolve across India. From Swami Vivekananda to Sri Aurobindo, every great thinker reminded us of the power of our collective resolve. Even Mahatma Gandhi experienced it during the freedom movement. Post-independence, if this collective strength had been correctly recognized and harnessed towards boosting the welfare of all
