“The foremost aim of this gathering is to bring together the Hindus at the end of the year…. This annual meeting of ours is not for mundane religious purposes, not for material enjoyments, not for entertainment or merriment, but it is for our country, it is for our motherland, Bharata…. One of the major drawbacks of Indians is that we always seek the help of the nobility in whatever we do. Is this not something we should be greatly ashamed of? Are we not humans? … That is why the second aim of this Mela is to infuse and establish the spirit of self-reliance
amongst Indians”.
– Shri Ganendranath Tagore, Secretary, Hindu Mela 1868, stated the aim of the gathering at the inaugural session, as quoted in ‘Swami Vivekananda and Hindu Mela’ by Dr Shyamali Chowdhury, Prabuddha Bharat, Adwaita Ashram, Kolkata, September 2019, Vol 124. No. 09, p. 636.
The Mahakumbh 2025 was not just the largest human congregation on the planet but a profound expression of Bharat’s civilisational continuity and connectivity. Mahakumbh 2025, held in Prayagraj, has set new benchmarks in terms of organisation, participation, and global outreach, reaffirming the underlying unity of Bharat. It is essential to reflect on its success, impact and the way forward post the conclusion of grand celebration. Keeping this in mind, Organiser and Panchjanya organised the confluence of distinguished thought leaders and policymakers at Lucknow.
“Manthan: Mahakumbh and Beyond’ clearly conveyed inherent unity while celebrating diversity as the biggest message of Mahakumbh. As Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pointed out in the inaugural session, all the external differences got withered away in Triveni Sangam. The mega pilgrimage thrashed all efforts to divide society on various faultlines, including caste, sect, language, region, and gender. Historically, the pilgrimage provided a sense of unity, but most of these sacred Melas were reduced to rituals during the colonial aggressions. The spirit of the Hindu Mela started during the freedom struggle and attained a new level during the Mahakumbh of 2025 – making religious gatherings a collective pride of Bharat. It was a united response of Bharat to the fake narratives about the ancient civilisation and religio-cultural practices associated with it.
The success of the Mahakumbh was not because of the publicity but the authenticity of the organisation with its original intention. It was the congregation of devotees under the guidance of Sadhus and Sanyasis of various sects. The government became a facilitator for the smooth conduct of the mega gathering. Besides the spiritual and religious discourses, Paryavaran, Netra and Samarasta Kumbh have become regular features of Kumbh Mela. The religious festival has propagated the spirit of Swadeshi and cleanliness. The return of Hindu Mela as a solution provider to social problems with a participatory approach is one of the key takeaways of the Prayag Mahakumbh.
The cyclical confluence of various sects of Bharat has not been limited to spiritual dimensions. The cultural and socio-economic dimensions have equally been critical. The overall development of the Prayag-Ayodhya-Kashi corridor was discussed in staggering numbers. The message of shared prosperity and conserving heritage has been the most cherished outcome of this process. For Bharat to be a global solution provider, it must see spiritual and material progress as the two sides of the same coin and not contradict each other.
The permanent connectivity infrastructure created in the twenty-five-kilometre radios of Prayagraj turned the residents and surrounding villages into stakeholders in the organisation and management process. Using digital and AI technology facilitated the gathering without killing the original spirit of the same. We can adopt some of the best practices about the role of technology in managing our day-to-day affairs.
The Manthan confluence explored the spirituality, integrity, prosperity, security and sustainability dimensions of Mahakumbh. The Sanatan is eternal and still most adaptable to face new challenges. The message of the magnificent and mega human congregation must continue to resonate; hence, the ‘Manthan – Mahakumbh and Beyond!’
