Why was this time of Kumbh really a great event? Understand this

Recent The Kumbh 2025 in the Kumbh in certain ways remained in many ways to conform to its prefix – Maha (great) -. According to government data, 65 crore people participated in it. They came not only from all over the country but also from different classes, castes, communities and sexes, including the transgender communities represented by the Kinnar Akhara. This Sanatani Hindu festival also attracted people of other parts and other religions of the world, so why was the scale of this Kumbh so big? How did it become an event in which everyone wanted to participate in rich or poor? Trying to analyze deep social meanings in this huge mass movement is a complex task, but let’s try to understand it. First of all, in these neo-ignorant times, a variety of major identities, especially religious, are seen to be a strong desire among urban, metropolitan and educated people around India and around the world. A disease of aggressive modernity is that it causes emptiness, and the younger generation wants to fill this emptiness by creating a spiritual relationship.

Effect of resurrection of Sanatan Dharma

This tremendous response can also be understood as the influence of the revival of Sanatan Dharma. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath introduced Kumbh as a symbol of the pride of Sanatan Dharma. This empowered many people including Bollywood celebrities to reinforce their relationship with faith.

Second, Kumbh became aspiring, more than a spiritual event. In today’s India, whether someone is living in rural areas or in the city, everyone wants to travel. The increasing socio-economic mobility of the marginalized sections of the society due to various government social assistance programs has already promoted religious tourism.

Packaging and branding of Mahakumbh

Add packaging and branding of Mahakumbh as this colorful, attractive and spiritual experience. Through social media already for various sadhus, saints and youth associated with the akhadas, the event became an experience that gave them a break from the boring monotony of everyday life. Content creators also played an important role in this, which came in large numbers to make reel and videos. It created a sense of FOMO (fear of missing), combining Mahakumbh to 144 years later and 144 years later.

Religious festive market aspect

It is no wonder that so many people came to be part of this rare moment of history. Those who could not join it also wanted to be a part of it. In a viral video of a Housing Society in Noida, a person joining Kumbh is shown putting Ganga water in the swimming pool so that other people can take a dip in it. The fifth and often neglected aspect is the market aspect of this religious festival. In this fair, startups selling everything from tea to insurance and virtual philosophy were attracted so that devotees could be made customers.

Even NGOs participated extensively in organizing health camps and food donations camps. Such activities also inspired a large group of youth and general public, who can contribute to social work and find some meanings in their lives.

A large number of women also presence

Interestingly, a large number of women attended the Kumbh. Apart from being part of family groups, they were also part of groups traveling together from the same village or town. A young woman told our research team that she was traveling with a group of women only from Bangalore. The women felt quite safe and comfortable in taking a dip in the confluence. Many women devotees appreciated arrangements for women in more toilets for women, separate changing rooms at the ghats and arrangements for women in night shelters etc.

Unique symbol of social, spiritual solidarity

Mahakumbh, its management and administration may be a matter of debate in political circles, but the crowd, despite suspicion of deadly stampede and water quality, showed that devotion could cross many obstacles. India is a society of union, but we do not have enough studies on fair -based cultures. In the era of aggressive modernity which is causing many solitude. Mahakumbh is a unique symbol of social and spiritual solidarity.

(The author is the director of GB Pant Institute of Social Sciences)