PRAYAGRAJ, India — The sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers became the epicentre of religious devotion on Tuesday as tens of thousands of naked Hindu ascetics, known as Naga Sadhus, and millions of pilgrims participated in ritual baths during the Maha Kumbh festival.
The festival, held every 12 years in Prayagraj, northern India, commenced Monday, January 13, 2025, with officials estimating that over 15 million people have already bathed in the holy waters.
The six-week-long celebration is expected to draw more than 400 million participants, making it the largest religious gathering on Earth.
Nude Hindu holy men or a Naga Sadhus of Maharirwani Akhara prepare for a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on one of the most auspicious day Makar Sankranti, for the Mahakumbh festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh
Hindus believe bathing at the confluence cleanses sins and provides liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
At sunrise on Tuesday, Naga Sadhus, adorned with ash, marigold crowns, and armed with tridents and ceremonial swords, led the procession to the riverbank.
Chants of praise to Lord Shiva resonated as the ascetics marched, accompanied by singing, drumming, and the blowing of horns.
“It is amazing to see how people are just diving in such cold water,” said Venkatesh Ramaling, a tech specialist from Pune, who took part in the ritual bath.
“People have such strong faith here, and looking at them I feel inspired. After taking the bath, I feel really good and full of positivity.”
Naked Hindu holy men or a Naga Sadhus of Maharirwani Akhara gets ready at their camp for a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on one of the most auspicious day Makar Sankranti, for the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, celebrated every 12 years in Prayagraj, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh
Ancient Tradition with Cosmic Alignment
The Maha Kumbh festival traces its origins to Hindu mythology, where the god Vishnu is said to have wrested a golden pitcher of nectar from demons.
Legend holds that a few drops of the elixir fell at four sites: Prayagraj, Nasik, Ujjain, and Haridwar.
These locations rotate hosting the festival approximately every three years, based on cosmic alignments of the sun, moon, and Jupiter.
This year, the Indian government allocated more than $765 million to the festival, building an expansive tent city to accommodate visitors.
The temporary settlement includes 3,000 kitchens, 150,000 toilets, and a sophisticated security system manned by 50,000 personnel.
“We have deployed 2,700 cameras, including AI-powered systems, to monitor crowd density and movement,” said Rajnish Diwedi, a senior police official overseeing festival security.
“This helps us avoid stampedes, which have occurred in the past.”
Naga Sadhus of Niranjani Akhara arrive for ritualistic dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on one of the most auspicious day Makar Sankranti, for the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh
A Spiritual and Cultural Spectacle
Pilgrims, some carrying belongings on their heads and others pulling wheeled bags, journeyed from across India to participate in the sacred rites.
Families and large groups marched through designated routes, heeding warnings from security personnel to maintain order.
“It is some culmination, some distillation of so much spiritual pursuit,” remarked Stephen Barker, a New York-based artist attending the festival.
“It is fascinating to see everyone with one purpose.”
The Naga Sadhus, revered for their austere lifestyle, have set up sprawling camps at the site. Devotees flock to these camps for blessings, prayers, and discourses.
“This is the holy place for salvation,” said Sri Digambar Ishwargiri, a Naga Sadhu from Junagadh in western India.
“We safeguard our faith. We are soldiers of the Hindu religion.”
While bathing occurs daily, specific dates hold special cosmic significance, drawing the largest crowds.
Many pilgrims observe strict austerities throughout the festival, including daily sunrise baths, meditation, and charity.
Global Impact
The Maha Kumbh festival attracts not only devotees but also global tourists and spiritual seekers.
The government’s investment in infrastructure and crowd management underscores the event’s cultural and economic significance, as it highlights India’s religious heritage on an international stage.
The festival continues until late February, with millions expected to partake in the profound rituals that define the Maha Kumbh as a testament to faith and devotion.
Naked Hindu ascetics and holy men bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers on the second day of the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia
Naked Hindu ascetics and holy men immerse an idol before bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers on the second day of the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia
Hindu pilgrims perform rituals after taking a holy dip at Hooghly River on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | AP Photo/Bikas Das
Hindu pilgrims perform rituals after taking a holy dip at Hooghly River on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | AP Photo/Bikas Das
A policeman controls the crowd at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers on the second day of the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. | AP Photo/Kumar Singh
