Kumbh Mela | At Prayagraj, an encounter with naga sadhus and tent stays

Experience Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, where devotees gather for a spiritual and cultural extravaganza.

The Ganga is everything in Prayagraj.

She flows quietly, but the banks are bustling with excitement. Here, water from the river is packed in customised bottles, ready for devotees to take back to their hometowns. Priests perform pujas with reverential devotees, all set to take a holy dip, with cries of ‘Ganga mata ki jai’ frequently emerging from the many boats lined up here.

The Sangam — or the Triveni Sangam — is the place to be at Prayagraj. It is the confluence of three rivers — the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati — and one has to travel quite a bit by boat from the banks to reach here. A dip here is said to cleanse one’s soul and free them from rebirth.

The Triveni Sangam is a major destination for Hindu pilgrimages and more so, during this time of the year. For, it is the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, a time when people gather for what is described as the biggest religious congregation in the world.

While the Kumbh Mela has often been associated with mammoth crowds and spiritual enlightenment, this year is all the more special, due to a rare celestial alignment that occurs only once in 144 years. “While the Ardh Kumbh Mela happens every six years, the Purna Kumbh Mela happens every 12 years. But this is the Maha Kumbh Mela and that happens only every 144 years,” says Vikram Rana, a certified guide with UP Tourism who is currently based in Prayagraj.

This once-in-144-years excitement is palpable on the streets of Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad. Sadhus arrive every day from various parts of India and set up makeshift tents on the banks; their home for a month or so. Some of them arrive in grand processions, while some others walk discreetly and settle down. And, for this grand event, braving the bitter Uttar Pradesh winter where temperatures can dip down to 7 degree celsius, devotees from across the world make a beeline to participate in the festivities and take a dip in the holy waters.

The sadhus of the Kumbh