SURAJ NANDREKAR
It was around 8 am in the morning when I reached the Triveni Sangam Ghat along with six other friends of mine from Saligao – Kishor Mandrekar, Pradeep Shirodkar, Deepak Rane, Umesh Fadte, Ranganath Rane and Shankar Tuyekar.
At that point let alone taking a dip in the water, we weren’t even ready to shed a piece of clothing from our body, it was that chilling cold.
Just scrolled through my mobile and it was 9 degrees. “God I said, forgive me, I will come later in the day”.
We were not the only people on Ghat though, there were hundreds of others. Some taking the holy dip, some changing/drying clothes, some taking a rest and others having breakfast.
This was no more a Kumbh Mela shown in Bollywood flicks where the kins got separated, it was Kumbh of the union of families. It was a new era of Kumbh Mela, The Era of Yogi Adityanath. I would say more of Yogi than Modi, simply because of the meticulous arrangements. The PM can only provide funds but it is the CM who needs to have an interest in such arrangements.
I would give the same amount of credit to Dr Pramod Sawant of Goa for making the Goa Exposition a grand success.
Coming back to my fear of taking a holy dip (to wash my sins), we felt more comfortable with every passing minute.
We saw families, women, and kids as young as 3 to 4 years old taking a dip in that chilled water.
Just then one of my friends said, “If those 3-4 year kids can take a dip, why can’t we?”
I did not know whether this was an attempted encouragement or an insult to us.
Nonetheless, we decided it was now or never, the temperatures were not going over 12 degrees anyway so why waste time?
We changed into our inners and one by one moved into the chilling water.
As we normally do in the bathroom, I put my hand to test the water and “Oh God” I got the shock of my life within a fraction of a second. The water was that cold.
However, we all braved the situation and got into the water and believe me within minutes we forgot the water was cold.
It did brush my mind at one point in time that the water was colder than the chilled beer in my freezer back home.
While my friends continued bathing, I wound up soon with rituals and got back to doing what I do best – filming, photography and journalism.
Our experience
Well, if you reach early, getting to the ghats is not an issue at all. While teh private cars aren’t allowed after a particular time, the EV autorickshaws will drop you right on the ghats.
Special arrangements for bathing and conveyance have been made for the elderly and disabled.
While all the arrangements and accommodation were fine, the only drawback was the traffic nightmares and that is understandable when lakhs of people descend at one point.
The 12 temporary bridges, tents, security towers, security deployments, cleaning of ghats, dustbins, toilets are regular points, changing rooms, sandbags for convenience on banks, food arrangements, tents for sadhus, around 10000 buses, EVs, ambulances, electricity arrangements and drinking water has all been taken care of and meticulously planned.
Statistics At Mahakumbh…
The Maha Kumbh festival stands as a testament to the grandeur and spiritual vibrancy of India. This year, the Maha Kumbh festival has successfully drawn more than 10 crore devotees and visitors to Prayagraj, as of 23 January 2025. The festival of Makar Sankranti (14 January 2025) alone, witnessed 3.5 crore devotees in a single day, taking a dip in the holy Triveni Sangam and a total number of 45 crore devotees are expectedin the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. A 21-member delegation from 10 countries also took a sacred dip at the Sangam on January 16, 2025. The delegation, representing Fiji, Finland, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the UAE, experienced the heritage and spiritual significance of Maha Kumbh. Arrangements for the delegation’s stay were made at the Tent City in Arail.
Meticulous Arrangements
The State government has made meticulous arrangements to welcome and manage such a huge crowd of pilgrims. With an unprecedented scale of preparation involving cutting-edge technology, infrastructure enhancements, and sustainable planning, this edition of Maha Kumbh sets a benchmark in event management and global cultural exchange. From the sacred Shahi Snans to the vibrant Akhara processions, from digital innovations to large-scale sustainability initiatives, Maha Kumbh 2025 represents a harmonious fusion of the past and the future.
Major Attractions at Maha Kumbh
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj is a vibrant tapestry of faith, culture, and innovation. A striking centerpiece is the “Tejas Pandal,” a majestic 85-foot-tall structure modeled after the HAL Tejas fighter jet. The Kumbh Mela also pays homage to the rich heritage of India through the Akharas, which are considered the custodians of both spiritual and martial traditions. The event is providing a platform for artisans to showcase their talents through the “One District, One Product” exhibition, while Kalagram is offering a living museum of Indian crafts, cuisines, and culture.
A mesmerizing drone show is captivating the hearts of audiences by depicting the legendary “Prayag Mahatmyam” and “Samudra Manthan.” Further, there is a cultural extravaganza being organised, featuring renowned artists like Shankar Mahadevan, Mohit Chauhan, Kailash Kher, and many more, creating a spiritually enriching atmosphere for devotees till February 24th, 2025.
Infrastructure and Arrangements for Maha Kumbh 2025
Government agencies have collaborated to provide world-class facilities, encompassing:
— Security and Crowd Management: Advanced surveillance, drone monitoring, and a well-coordinated law enforcement presence.Security measures have been ramped up, with over 50,000 policemen (including para military), 14,000 home guards, and 2,750 AI-based CCTV cameras deployed. A state-of-the-art Multi-Disaster Response vehicle has also been deployed to enhance safety and disaster readiness.
— Public Infrastructure:Key projects include 14 new flyovers, 9 permanent ghats, 7 new bus stations, and 12 kilometers of temporary ghats. Over 200 roads have been newly constructed or upgraded.
— Navigation:Around 800 multi-language signageshave been installed to guide visitors.A dedicatedapp provides real-timeupdates on crowddensity, emergency alerts, directions, and accommodation details.
— Health and Sanitation: Health services feature 6,000 beds, 43 hospitals, and lances.Additionally, 10,200 sanitation workers and 1,800 Ganga Sevadut are deployed to maintain cleanliness during the event.
— Accommodation: Maha Kumbh Nagar has been transformed into a temporary city with thousands of tents and shelters, including super deluxe accommodations.
— Akash Vani’s Kumbhvani:In a significant initiative to keep devotees and pilgrims informed, Akashvani’sKumbhvani News Bulletins are now being broadcast live through the public address system in Maha Kumbh Nagar.
— New electric buses: 10-15 electric buses deployed before the event; 30 more before Mauni Amavasya (January 29, 2025). Each bus is 12 meters long and can run for more than 200 kilometers on a single charge.
— Double Decker Buses: A total of 120 electric buses are expected in the second phase, including 20 double-decker buses and 100 buses of 9-meter and 12-meter lengths.
— Expanded train services: In view of Kumbh Mela, the Railways has now introduced the facility to book railway tickets 15 days in advance.Indian Railways has launched a toll-free helpline, dedicated website, and Maha Kumbh Mela App for transportation information.
Ensuring Food Availability and Safety at Maha Kumbh 2025
Nearly 20,000 people, daily, are enjoying free meals at the Maha Kumbh Mela. The Uttar Pradesh government has made 25 thousand new ration cards for the convenience of the devotees in Maha Kumbh. This time special arrangements have been made for the devotees in Maha Kumbh. More than 35 thousand gas cylinders have been refilled and 3500 new connections have also been issued. The work of refilling5000 gas cylinders per day is being done in the fair.Food items are being provided primarily for the Akharas and Kalpvasis in the organization of Maha Kumbh.
The Uttar Pradesh government has also implemented stringent food safety measures across five zones and 25 sectors. Food safety officers monitor hygiene at hotels, dhabas, and stalls, while mobile “Food Safety on Wheels” laboratories conduct on-the-spot testing to prevent adulteration.10 mobile food labs are ensuring every meal being distributed and sold is safe to consume and hygienic.
