PRAYAGRAJ, India — On Tuesday, the first of many large-scale bathing rituals commenced at the confluence of sacred rivers in northern India, marking the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering. Tens of thousands of naked Hindu ascetics, along with millions of pilgrims, participated in this initial immersion in the frigid waters.
At sunrise, a grand procession of ash-smeared Hindu holy men, carrying tridents, swords, spears, and small two-headed drums, marched and rode chariots towards the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. These men, adorned with matted dreadlocks and marigold crowns, chanted religious slogans honoring Lord Shiva, their procession accompanied by singing, drumming, and the blare of horns.
Millions of Hindu devotees followed them into the sacred confluence.
The Maha Kumbh festival, held every 12 years, began on Monday with over 15 million pilgrims bathing in the holy rivers, according to official figures. Over the next six weeks, the festival is anticipated to attract more than 400 million participants, many of whom will engage in elaborate rituals.
Hindus believe that bathing at this confluence will purify them of sins and liberate them from the cycle of rebirth.
Among the bathers was Venkatesh Ramaling, a technology professional from Pune.
“It’s incredible to witness people immersing themselves in such cold water,” Ramaling remarked. “Their faith is so profound; it’s inspiring. After bathing, I feel invigorated and positive.”
The festival’s origins lie in a Hindu legend about Vishnu obtaining a golden pitcher containing the nectar of immortality from demons. A few drops are believed to have fallen in Prayagraj, Nasik, Ujjain, and Haridwar – the four locations where the Kumbh festival has been celebrated for centuries.
The Kumbh rotates among these four pilgrimage sites approximately every three years, its date determined by the celestial alignment of the sun, moon, and Jupiter.
This year’s festival is considered the largest and most spectacular yet.
Authorities have constructed a vast tented city along the riverbanks to accommodate the holy men, pilgrims, and tourists. The government has allocated over $765 million for the event, aiming to impress India’s predominantly Hindu population and attract global visitors.
“It’s a culmination, a distillation of immense spiritual dedication; it’s captivating to see everyone united by a single purpose,” observed Stephen Barker, a New York artist attending the festival.
The tent city boasts 3,000 kitchens and 150,000 toilets. Approximately 50,000 security personnel are deployed to maintain order and manage the crowds.
On Tuesday, millions flocked to the riverbanks, some carrying clothes, blankets, and food, others hauling wheeled bags. Large groups of families and villagers marched in long lines, as security personnel broadcast warnings to prevent stampedes, a past issue at the festival.
Rajnish Diwedi, a senior police official overseeing security, stated that at least 2,700 cameras, some AI-powered, transmit crowd movement and density data to four central control rooms, allowing for rapid deployment of personnel. Police are also employing automated systems to prevent stampedes, he added.
Groups of Hindu ascetics have established extensive camps, with tens of thousands of pilgrims visiting them for religious discussions and prayers. These ascetics, known as Naga Sadhus, belong to religious orders that were once mercenary armies; they generally venerate Lord Shiva.
Sri Digambar Ishwargiri, a Naga Sadhu who journeyed from Junagadh, approximately 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from Prayagraj, explained that immersing in the holy waters is a step towards attaining salvation. He sat cross-legged near a small fire and a ceremonial trident inside his tent, receiving devotees seeking blessings.
“This is the sacred place for salvation,” Ishwargiri asserted, adding that ascetics like himself are “soldiers of the Hindu religion.”
“We protect our faith,” he stated.
Daily bathing occurs at the site, but on auspicious days, Hindu ascetics rush towards the holy rivers at dawn.
Many pilgrims remain for the entire festival, practicing austerity, giving alms, and bathing at sunrise daily. The river baths, prayers, meditation and yoga sessions, and other religious rituals are organized by Hindu ascetics and supported by public funds.
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Associated Press video journalists Shonal Ganguly and Rishi Lekhi contributed to this report.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
