Maha Kumbh Mela: A Dive into the Divine 2025 14-17 February

This was my third attempt at experiencing the Kumbh Mela. After the somewhat underwhelming nature of the previous two, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about embarking on a third journey. However, my wife, inspired by the extensive media coverage, was eager to experience the spectacle firsthand.

Initially, we considered a "Make My Trip" package that included Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj, priced at a hefty 70,000 rupees per person. Ultimately, we opted for a more budget-friendly approach, flying from Hyderabad to Jabalpur (a total of 26,000 rupees for both of us).

New Jabalpur Airport

Our journey on February 14th, 2025, was uneventful. However, the following morning, as we embarked on our journey towards Prayagraj, we encountered significant traffic delays. A narrow, unfinished road near Reeva exacerbated the situation, followed by heavy congestion upon entering Prayagraj itself. We were eventually diverted to a parking area on the outskirts of the city.

After navigating the crowded roads, we finally reached the old Yamuna bridge around 5 PM. The road ahead was finally open, allowing us to proceed towards our designated sector, Sector 6.

We were directed to the Daraganj Nagavasuki Temple, but with heavy backpacks and my wife and daughter struggling to navigate the unfamiliar terrain, we decided against walking. The congested roads and the police restrictions made it impossible to proceed further.

We opted for an open "Raksha" (a local vehicle) for 500 rupees, which transported us for a kilometer before we were instructed to disembark and walk the remaining distance to the Nag Vasuki Temple. Fortunately, we found an e-rickshaw that took us the remaining 2 kilometers to the temple for 50 rupees per person.

Upon reaching the Nagvasuki Temple, we found no sign of Pronoti, our tent organizer, or Ayush. Tired and exhausted, we sat on a raised platform near a small shop. Tripti and Swapna were understandably frustrated and angry, repeatedly trying to contact them. A policewoman and a temple official offered to help. I explored the temple grounds, which are situated on a hillock, searching the other side. Eventually, with the assistance of a policeman, we navigated the temple grounds, going up and down until we reached the gate of Sector 6. Pronoti and Ayush finally arrived on a motorcycle and escorted me to our tent, located in the middle of Sector 6. Tripti and Swapna arrived shortly after, having walked about a kilometer with Pronoti. 

Tent

The tent itself was basic, but it provided three floor beds with clean sheets and blankets. Outside, there was a tap for water and both a Western-style and an Indian-style toilet. As is customary in India, we used buckets for water. We all slept soundly, undisturbed by the noise that had been prevalent at the entrance, thanks to the absence of bhajans and police announcements.

Around 2:30 AM, I awoke and checked the temperature, which was a chilly 15 degrees Celsius. Swapna and I stepped outside to enjoy the fresh air and the palpable sense of spiritual energy. At 5:00 AM, we walked down to the Ganga Ghat, about a kilometer away. It was nearly empty at this auspicious hour. We took a holy dip in the Ganges, followed by tea. A holy man applied a tilak to our foreheads. As the sun rose and the crowds began to gather, we returned to our tent. Tripti and Swapna stopped at a shop to buy bangles. Our driver, however, urged us to hurry; he had been fined by a policeman for parking in a no-parking zone.

We quickly packed our belongings and began 
walking towards the Nagvasuki Temple. Unfortunately, the police had closed the usual shortcut due to the growing crowds and directed us to take a longer route. Our car was parked near a police camp. The crowd was so dense that it was difficult to navigate the main road. Fortunately, a magistrate's vehicle arrived, and the police opened the barricade, allowing us to follow it to the Sangam station. No vehicles were permitted to proceed towards the Ganges.

Using Google Maps, we navigated our way out of the city and onto Highway 30 towards Jabalpur. Our next obstacle was at Reeva, where large trucks blocked both sides of the narrow, unfinished road. It took us two and a half hours to clear the jam. Swapna had had a difficult experience on the way to the Mela, having to stop at a hospital due to a bladder issue. This time, she avoided food and water, as none of us had had a bowel movement. Tripti stopped at a petrol pump to relieve herself. The rest of the journey was smooth, and we arrived home by 6:30 PM, feeling not tired but rather energized by our spiritual trip.

This trip taught us that the true essence of the pilgrimage wasn't solely about the dip in the Ganga. Rather, it was about the journey itself: navigating obstacles with patience and absorbing the profound spiritual energy of the sacred site.