Maha Kumbh mela: Why millions go to the world’s largest religious gathering | World News

From the early hours, thousands of devotees began pouring into the Maha Kumbh mela grounds, which stretch for thousands of acres in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

It has been bitterly cold and a heavy downpour on Sunday has made everything wet.

Over the next 45 days, an estimated 400 million Hindu pilgrims will converge on the city of Prayagraj.

The Maha Kumbh mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, is one of the most sacred pilgrimages for Hindus and is celebrated once every 12 years.

It is held on the banks of the Ganges and Yamuna and where the two sacred rivers meet.

What is Maha Kumbh mela?

Carrying their belongings to stay overnight at the enormous tented city which spans over 10,000 acres, devotees march across the makeshift roads and many pontoon bridges linking the various “ghats” – wharves that have been built along the riverbanks so devotees can sit and dip in the waters.

It seems as if all private and public vehicles except for ambulances and police cars have stopped to pry at the tented city set up for the enormous event.

Undeterred by the weather, thousands make their way to the bathing areas for their ritualistic dip in the sacred rivers.

It’s a symbolic cleansing of the body and soul and they believe it connects them to the divine.

Reeling from the cold after she has just taken a dip, Sadhna Jain from Surat, in the west Indian state of Gujarat, tells Sky News: “Sheer devotion has brought me here, being a heart patient I never expected to walk so far and come here, but God gave me strength to do it.”

Seema Gupta, from the Indian capital Delhi, says: “It’s a once in a lifetime event, I feel connected to the divine.

“There are a lot of issues at home, my husband does not keep well, but I still left everybody and came here to take a dip, this experience is just indescribable.”

Among the thousands here are Carol Johal and Mandy, childhood friends from Coventry in the UK.

Born of Indian heritage, Ms Johal says: “I’ve come to get the blessings from [Hindu goddesses] Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna, and I’ve come to get some ‘Ganga Jal’ [sacred water from the Ganges] for my dear mother and say prayers for my family and to have peace in my heart.”

Mandy says: “For me this is more of a cultural trip than a spiritual trip, obviously I’m not a Hindu but I am into culture and into spirituality and this is something I’ve wanted to do for a very very long time.”

There are a number of foreign tourists and devotees amid the crowd.

Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of former Apple chief executive Steve Jobs and a devotee of spiritual guru Kailashanand Giri, will participate in the celebrations.

The Maha Kumbh mela finds its origins in ancient Hindu scriptures of the Rigveda.

Its importance and spectacle has been revived by the state and central government, both ruled by the right wing Bhartiya Janata Party.

Read more:
IDF admits ‘serious offence’
Jeff Bezos’s rocket launch called off
Baby gorilla rescued from hold of plane

The Maha Kumbh mela grounds are covered with large banners and posters of Prime Minster Narendra Modi.

An estimated £670m has been spent on the celebrations.

The six-week festival is a kaleidoscope of people from all walks of life.

Ash-covered sadhus, holy people who have renounced the worldly life, are the main draw for many who seek their blessings.

They are allotted space where they can set up their tents, meet devotees and stay till the celebrations end.

Over 250 individuals were reported lost by their families in the enormous gathering on Monday.

All were united with their families by the “lost and found” centres equipped with digital tools and social media assistance.