I am not someone who believes that taking a dip in the river will wash away my sins. Don’t get me wrong, I consider myself quite spiritual, but I don’t believe in shortcuts. If redeeming yourself were that easy, wouldn’t we all be saints by now?
So why did I go to Mahakumbh?
Because history and religion fascinate me. Because witnessing the largest human gathering on the planet, an event that happens once every 144 years, felt like something I couldn’t afford to miss. To be in the middle of it, to feel the energy of millions of people driven by sheer faith, how could I say no to that?
Before I tell you about my experience, let me tell you what Mahakumbh really is.
What is Mahakumbh?
Kumbh Mela is a sacred gathering of devotees, ascetics, and spiritual seekers along the banks of the holiest rivers of India. The first documented mention of this grand event dates back to the 7th century when Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang recorded his visit to Prayag during King Harshavardhan’s reign.
Adi Shankara is often credited with shaping Kumbh Mela into its present form, a gathering of sages and scholars from different Hindu traditions to discuss spirituality and philosophy on the banks of the sacred Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati.
Kumbh Mela follows a cycle. It is held every 6 years (Ardha Kumbh), 12 years (Purna Kumbh), and 144 years (Mahakumbh). It rotates between four locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain.
The festival is deeply connected to the legend of Samudra Manthan, the great churning of the ocean, where gods and demons fought for Amrit (the nectar of immortality). According to mythology, four drops of the nectar fell at these four locations, sanctifying them forever.
This year’s Mahakumbh in Prayagraj is special—the first in 144 years, following 12 Purna Kumbhs. A historic event, a spiritual spectacle.
Let’s be clear, this isn’t an informational blog. If you’re looking for facts, my Instagram has it all (which, by the way, if you’re not following, you’re missing out on some great content. Just saying!).
This is about what it felt like to be there.
I had two days at Mahakumbh, and I made sure I checked off everything on my list.
I visited the beautiful temples of Prayagraj, explored the akhadas where the enigmatic sadhus and aghoris reside, took a dip at Triveni Sangam, and indulged in some of the best street food.
But it wasn’t all good and fun! Let’s talk about the crowd.
It’s very easy to romanticize crowds of people when you see drone shots. But when you’re in the middle of it, pushed and pulled, it’s a different reality.
I walked 15 kilometres a day. The next day, thinking I had outsmarted everyone, I rented a scooty. Big mistake. If the pedestrian crowd was intense, the traffic was even more chaotic.
But amidst all the struggle, what struck me the most was faith. It is powerful!
I saw people carrying huge loads, walking 15-20 kilometres, braving the heat, the dust, the fatigue, yet their faces held nothing but gratitude. No anger, no complaints. Just the happiness of being at Mahakumbh. People saw the news of stampedes and still chose to go (I mean, that needs courage!)
Meanwhile, I found myself grumbling about the walking. It made me question my own patience, my own privilege.
And then, standing in the waters of the Sangam, I realized something. It’s not about washing away sins. It’s about acknowledgement.
When you step into that holy confluence, you’re not just going through a ritual. You reflect. You think about the things you’ve done, the mistakes you’ve made, the people you’ve hurt and you make a silent promise to be better.
I think that’s what faith does to you. It doesn’t erase your past, but it
The Best Parts of Mahakumbh
- The Akhadas – The Naga and Kinnar Akhada were particularly fascinating. It was quite mysterious (and magical, if I might say). The conversations I heard were unlike anything I had ever experienced. It’s one of those things you know you won’t get to witness again in a lifetime.
- The Temples – Except for Bade Hanumanji Mandir, which was always really crowded, the rest of the temples were surprisingly peaceful. In the middle of all the chaos, the temples were actually my hideout (especially the Shankar Viman Mandapam Mandir).
- The Energy – This is what made Mahakumbh what it was. Despite the crowds, the heat, the traffic, people were radiating joy.
Mahakumbh will test your patience, your endurance, your comfort levels. But if you surrender to the experience, it will give you something far greater—perspective.
And in the end, isn’t that what travel is all about?
Did you go to Mahakumbh? What was your experience like? I’d love to hear it in the comments!
