Maha Kumbh: Planning & Governance Secrets

The Maha Kumbh embodies India’s timeless spiritual heritage and celebrates faith and harmony.

Context:

- The world‟s largest religious congregation, the Maha Kumbh Mela, kicked off on January 13, 2025 with over 50 lakh people taking the first holy dip at Sangam, the point where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers converge.

1.
What is Kumbh Mela?
- The term "Kumbh" comes from the root "Kumbhk" (the sacred pitcher of elixir of immortality).
- Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism.
- It is celebrated in a cycle of approximately 12 years, to celebrate every revolution Brihaspati (Jupiter) completes.
- Kumbh is mainly held at four riverside pilgrimage sites, namely: Prayagraj (Ganges-Yamuna-Sarasvati rivers confluence), Haridwar (Ganges), Nashik (Godavari), and Ujjain (Shipra).
- Each site‟s celebration is based on a distinct set of astrological positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter.
- The celebrations occur at the exact moment when these positions are fully occupied, as it is considered to be the holiest time in Hinduism.
- The Kumbh Mela is an event that intrinsically encapsulates the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and socio-cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge.
2.
What is the origin of Kumbh Mela?

- As per Hindu mythology, the origin of the Kumbh Melas is linked to Samudra Manthan or the churning of the cosmic ocean, when deities and demons came together to attain amrit, or the nectar of immortality.
- The story goes that when Devas (gods) and Asuras (loosely translated as demons) churned the ocean, Dhanvantri emerged carrying a pitcher of amrita, or the elixir of immortality.
- To make sure the Asuras don‟t get it, Indra‟s son, Jayant, ran off with the pot.
- The Sun, his son Shani(the planet Jupiter), Brihaspati (the planet Jupiter), and the Moon went along to protect him and the pot.
- As Jayant ran, the amrita split at four spots: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar.
- He ran for 12 days, and as one day of the Devas is equal to one year of humans, Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these locations every 12 years, based on the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter.
- A battle broke out, leading to drops of the nectar falling at four sites – Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain.
- These places house four Tirthas or holy sites and a dip in the rivers flowing through them River Kshipra in Ujjain, Nashik’s Godavari, Ganga in Haridwar and Sangam at Prayagraj would lead to salvation.
- Each of these sacred locations has hosted the Kumbh Mela on a rotational basis for centuries, but the Prayagraj event is considered the most important and spectacular.


3.
Enlist various types of Kumbh Mela?
- There are four different types of Kumbh: Purna (complete) Kumbh Mela, Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela, Kumbh Mela, and Maha (Great) Kumbh Mela.
Types of Kumbh | Description |
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Maha Kumbh Mela |
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Purna Kumbh Mela |
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Ardh Kumbh Mela |
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Kumbh Mela |
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Magh Kumbh Mela |
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- The grand event is highly sacred, with Shahi Snan, or holy dip, being its highlight.
- Saints and monks from various akharas take the holy dip at a certain time on auspicious days.
- The dates of the Kumbh Mela are decided on the movements of the Moon, Sun and Jupiter as per the Hindu calendar.
4.
How is Kumbh Mela different from Maha Kumbh Mela?
- The Kumbh Mela is held every three years with the four locations – Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj – hosting the event on rotation.
- The Maha Kumbh is organised on a grand scale due to its religious importance.
- It is primarily held at Prayagraj and draws a large crowd, becoming one of the largest gatherings in the world.
Feature | Kumbh Mela | Mahakumbh Mela |
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Frequency |
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Locations |
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Significance |
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Devotee Attendance |
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Rituals |
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Spiritual Benefits |
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5.
Why is Maha Kumbh 2025 special?
- The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela holds special significance as it marks the completion of 12 Kumbh Mela cycles.
- It is after 144 years that the positioning of all the four planets is in line, and three hours prior to Amavasya (January 29), importantly, "Pukh (also pushya) Nakshatra" will also align with the four planets i.e the Sun, Moon, Jupiter and Saturn.
- Thus, the most auspicious of all the Maha Kumbh in the past 144 years is in 2025.
6.
What is Amrit Snan or shahi snan?
- The Kumbh Mela is held after every 12 years at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik-Trimbakeshwar, and Ujjain, at the banks of the sangam, the Ganga, the Godavari, and the Kshipra rivers respectively.
- It is believed that bathing in these rivers during the Kumbh washes away one‟s sins.
- Some dates during the Kumbh period are specially auspicious, depending on the alignment of planets, the Sun, and the Moon.
- The Kumbh Mela is attended by hundreds of sadhus, as part of their akhadaas or groups.
- The sadhus are the “royalty” here, and thus they take the first dip.
- The first ritual dip has traditionally been called the shahi snan or the royal bath.
- From 2025 Mahakumbh, the bath is being called amrit snan.
- January 14 was the first amrit snan or shahi snan at the Mahakumbh underway in Prayagraj.
- This is being seen as more in keeping with Hindu religious beliefs, as it is believed that Kumbh is celebrated at the four places where amrit, or the nectar of immortality, spilled after Samdura Manthan, or the churning of the ocean.



7.
What are the important bathing dates in the Kumbh 2025?
Days | Date |
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Makar Sankranti |
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Mauni Amavasya |
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Vasant Panchami |
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Shiv Ratri |
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8.
How is the site of a Kumbh Mela decided
- Site selection depends on astrological calculations.
- Another reason for the 12-year gap in Kumbh Melas is explained by the fact that Jupiter takes 12 years to complete one revolution around the Sun.
Haridwar |
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Prayagraj |
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Nashik and Trimbakeshwar |
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Ujjain |
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9.
What is the debate over Kumbh Mela history?
Debates | Description |
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Skanda Purana |
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Gorakhpur‟s Gita Press |
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8th-century Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya |
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Kama Maclean, Associate Professor of South Asian and World History |
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Prof. DP Dubey, retired Professor of ancient history at the University of Allahabad |
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10.
Enlist the brief timeline of Kumbh Mela?
1954 |
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1966 |
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1977 |
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1989 |
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2001 |
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2013 |
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11.
How did the Britishers look at the Kumbh Mela?
- The first reference to the Kumbh Mela by the British was in an 1868 report which said a "Coomb Mela" was to be held in Allahabad in 1870, for which logistic support and sanitation facilities were sought.
- During the British Raj, the festival saw a large gathering of citizens from all walks of life apart from the sadhus, and it was used to galvanise support for the freedom movement.
- According to the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), even Mahatma Gandhi participated in the Maha Kumbh mela in 1918 and interacted with other attendees.

- With the imposition of pilgrim tax, rapid expansion of railway infrastructure, institutionalisation of the Shahi snan, preparation of housing, sanitation, and food facilities for the pilgrims and policing, the British Raj controlled the Maha Kumbh Mela’s functioning, thus limiting clashes between the akharas.
12.
What is the significance of Kumbh Mela?
Significance | Analysis |
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Pauranic Significance |
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Astrological Significance |
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Social Significance |
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13.
What is the Economic Significance of Kumbh?
Revenue |
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Jobs |
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Infrastructure |
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Temporary livelihoods |
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Tourism |
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14.
Why is Maha Kumbh 2025 an Historic event?
- The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj is not just a spiritual gathering but it is a moment for humanity to reflect, innovate, and unite.
- Rooted in ancient wisdom and enhanced by modern advancements, it represents India‟s ability to honor its traditions while embracing the future.

Revival of Ancient Wisdom |
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Scale |
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Technology |
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Upgradation of ghats |
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River traffic management |
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Sanitation facilities |
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Crowd Management |
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Governance |
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Legacy |
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15.
Enlist various Technological Innovations at the Maha Kumbh 2025?
- For the first time in history, cutting-edge technology will play a significant role in organizing and enhancing the Kumbh Mela experience.
Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots |
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Advanced Surveillance Systems |
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Underwater Drones |
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Navigation and Mobile Apps |
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16.
Which is the new district of Mahakumbh area and how will it facilitate better organisation and efficient governance?

- The Maha Kumbh area of Prayagraj has been declared as the 76th district of the state by the Uttar Pradesh Government as of December 2nd, 2024.
- The new district will be known as Maha Kumbh Mela district.
- According to a notification, 66 villages of four tehsils - Sadar, Soraon, Phulpur and Karchana and the entire parade area have been included in the new district which will remain till March 31, 2025.
- The initiative aims to ensure seamless coordination of logistics, law enforcement, and facilities for the pilgrims expected to attend the event in Prayagraj.

- The newly created district will have a dedicated administrative team to oversee preparations and maintain services during the mela.
17.
How Six coloured e-passes will ensure safety and effective crowd management?

- For the safety and convenience of devotees attending Maha Kumbh, six coloured e-passes are being introduced by the mela authorities.
- These passes are designed to regulate vehicle movement and ensure effective crowd management during the event.
- The six e-passes will be issued based on the category of the pass holder.
White-coloured e-pass |
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Saffroncoloured e-pass |
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Yellow coloured e-pass |
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Red-coloured e-passes |
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Sky blue coloured epasses |
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Blue coloured e- passes |
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18.
Why Western universities are studying Mahakumbh?


- Mahakumbh Mela is a unique event in the world with none matching it in size or scale.
- Prayagraj, a city with a population of 5.5 million, will host nearly 40 crore pilgrims during Mahakumbh, compared to the 25 crore footfalls in 2019.
- The grand event is celebrated every 12 years when the sun, moon and Jupiter align in a specific way.
- More than two dozen prominent universities and other educational and research institutes from around the world as well as in the country are going to camp in Prayagraj during Mahakumbh to study various aspects related to the largest religious gathering in the world.
- Harvard, Stanford, London School of Economics, Kyoto University, AIIMS, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras and JNU are some premiere institutes that are going to send professors, research scholars and students to stay in Prayagraj.
- What attracts different researchers is how the gargantuan management of the Mela works without any major disruptive incident, accident or crime.
- Mahakumbh will see a veritable pop-up metropolis, constructed using tents, pontoons and bamboo structures, which will house millions of pilgrims and be completely dismantled after the festival.
- The temporary metropolis will feature everything from spatial zoning and infrastructure supply lines to food distribution networks and public gathering spaces.
- According to Mela Officials , this is the first time when institute backed studies are conducted on the economic impact, crowd management, socio-cultural manifestation, food distribution chain, anthropological study through ethnographic accounts, faecal sludge management among other areas.
- Eight different fields and subjects have been shortlisted by the state government which would be covered by the researchers.
- Opening the event for global participation, the urban development department had floated the idea of carrying out exhaustive study.
19.
What Western researchers found at Mahakumbh 2013?
- MahaKumbh 2013 was far better organised than Fifa World Cup in Brazil and Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, was said in a book on world‟s biggest religious congregation, produced by scholars and students of Harvard University along with architects and town planners of international repute.
- The book, 'Kumbh Mela - Mapping the Ephemeral Megacity', said that “For a country notorious for its 'lethargic' bureaucracy, the success of Maha Kumbh is truly noteworthy.”
- The book details the “sheer human achievement of creating the temporary and yet complex infrastructure of the 24-square-mile Kumbh city, compared to almost 2/3rd of Manhattan.
- Calling the entire process of making this city with an expiry date as “astonishing”, the book also described how this city came up for 45 days and took in millions of devotees.
- A team comprising mainly medical doctors from Harvard University was "largely impressed" with the orderliness of the Mela and the lack of any major disease outbreak.
- The main objective of the Harvard team, which had the support of the National Disaster Management Authority and the Allahabad Medical College, was to map patterns of diseases, water distribution, sanitation and disaster management plans.

20.
When and why was Kumbh included as an Intangible Cultural Heritage site?

- The Kumbh Mela has been inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO in 2019.
- The committee noted that as the largest harmonious conclave in the world, Kumbh Mela stands for values like magnanimity and patience that are very beneficial for modern humanity.
- The concept of Kumbh Mela goes well with the current international human rights tools because the festival welcomes people from all corners of the world without any differentiation.
- It was also observed that inscribing Kumbh Mela would ensure continuity of the festival by way of Guru-Shishya parampara (teacher-student lineage) that involves passing on the knowledge and skills related to Kumbh Mela from the saints and sages to their disciples.
21.
Mention about the tragedies that happened at Kumbh?
Year | Tragedy |
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1954 |
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2013 |
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22.
Enlist security measures at Kumbh 2025?
- The Maha Kumbh Mela is one of the largest spiritual gatherings in the world, drawing millions of devotees from around the globe to the sacred city of Prayagraj.
- With over 450 million pilgrims expected to attend in 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government has gone to great lengths to ensure that the event is not only spiritually enriching but also safe and secure for all.
Security Measures | Analysis |
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Comprehensive Force Deployment |
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Strengthened Infrastructure |
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Seven-Tier Security Framework |
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Fire Safety |
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Enhanced River Security by Water Police |
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Digital Surveillance |
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Lost and Found Centres |
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23.
Enlist various world records in which Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 has been placed?
- Prayagraj Kumbh Mela 2019 set 3 Guinness World Records and won accolades by Heads of Missions of 70 countries.




24.
Enlist various world records which Maha Kumbh 2025 is set to establish?

- Maha Kumbh 2025 is set to establish several world records this time around.
- The fair authority has planned to achieve four different world records in various categories, with a strong possibility of setting a record for the largest gathering of devotees at a single event
Event | Analysis |
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Netra Kumbh 2025 |
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Largest synchronized sweeping drive |
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Largest evehicle parade |
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Most handprint paintings within 8 hours |
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Largest rivercleaning drive |
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25.
What is Maha Kumbh’s global appeal?

- The Maha Kumbh has transcended national boundaries, drawing devotees and spiritual seekers from around the world.
- International pilgrims and tourists, including YouTubers from South Korea and visitors from Japan, Spain, Russia, and the United States, were captivated by the event‟s grandeur.
- At the Sangam Ghat, many engaged with local guides to understand the cultural and spiritual essence of the Maha Kumbh.
- Christina from Spain described her experience as a “once-in-alifetime opportunity.”
- The anticipated turnout for Maha Kumbh 2025 is expected to surpass the population of several nations, underlining its global significance.
- Foreign devotees not only witnessed but also actively participated in the rituals.
- Sadhus and sanyasis from various countries, having embraced Sanatan Dharma, took the holy dip, adding to the festival‟s spiritual diversity.

What is the relevance of the topic for UPSC CSE?
For Prelims: Godavari River, Shipra River, Sangam, Ardh-Kumbh, Vijayanagar empires, Delhi Sultanate, and Mughals, UNESCO, Intangible cultural heritage
For Mains: Significance of Kumbh, Historical Evolution.
Some Previous Years Prelims Questions
Q1. Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO?(2024)
(a) Chhau dance
(b) Durga Puja
(c) Garba dance
(d) Kumbh mela
Q2. With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements:(2017)
1. It is a song and dance performance
2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance
3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 only
Some Previous Years Mains Questions
Q1. Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss [2018]
Some Questions from This Year and Previous Years Interview Transcripts
Board Sheel Vardhan Singh sir:
- Why are stampedes increasing nowadays?
- Kumbh mela is approaching, how would you manage such a situation? Role of Technology in crowd management?
Board B.B. Swain sir:
- What steps will you take towards Kumbh Mela crowd management?
- What technological steps can be taken?
Board Manoj Soni sir:
- UP had generated profit through kumbh mela.
- If you are DM of Ujjain how will you do the same?
Some Questions for QUIZ
Q1. Consider the following Cultural Heritage Element:
1. Kutiyattam
2. Chhau
3. Mudiyettu
4. Bharatanatyam
5. Sankirtana
How many of the above countries are part of the UNESCO Intangible cultural heritage list?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) All five
Some Questions for POLL
Q1. Do you think that Kumbh serves as an event of cultural unity?
(a) YES
(b) NO
(c) Can’t say
Q2. Are you satisfied with the preparation of Kumbh 2025?
(a) YES
(b) NO
(c) Can’t say