Close to 50 crore people are reported to have visited the Mahakumbh by February 12, 2025. However, the accuracy of these numbers has been questioned. Who is keeping track, and how are the counts being recorded? This skepticism is often accompanied by images circulating on social media that portray the cleanliness of the event poorly, showing slippers and clothes littering the waterbody and questioning whether anyone would want to take a dip in such waters.

Additionally, there are notable highlights of traffic jams and incidents of broken train windows as people tried to enter reserved compartments to attend the Mahakumbh, as also the tragic ones of the New Delhi Railway Station stampede indicating significant mismanagement on the part of the authorities who did not adequately address the needs of the devotees.

Criticism often comes from those who have not attended the Mahakumbh themselves or are politically motivated to emphasise only the negatives, especially during the grand celebrations of the Kumbh, organised under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

My thoughts were interrupted by a call from author and commentator Shantanu Gupta right after the inaugural of the Mahakumbh, mid-January, inquiring whether I had taken the holy dip. I felt a sense of guilt for not planning a visit, especially with the soaring crowds every passing day. I replied, “Not yet, but I would love to."

As though it was destined to happen, an invitation to the first Kulture Kumbh, curated by Shefali Vaidya, Shantanu Gupta, and Pushkar Sharma at Parmarth Niketan, Prayagraj, under the blessings of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji and Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati ji, saw me packing my bags to Prayag. Yet, mixed reports on social media and from news agencies continued to worry me.

Then came the unfortunate incident on Mauni Amavasya, adding to the fear of the unknown for someone like me, who had never attended a Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh before.

After making a few more calls and getting friendly taunts in return, about needing to experience it for myself to know what the ground reality is, I hesitantly packed my bags with essential items, mindful of the long distances I might need to walk.

Upon landing at a newly constructed airport, we were welcomed by a unique character of an ancient city and a vibrance of festivities in the air. The drive from the airport to the Parmarth Ashram was led by the cheerful paintings decorating the walls of parks and public spaces. The fervour and joy were infectious. Our friend driving us to the venue shared the history of the Company Garden, the origin of ‘Lete Hanumanji’ and several other lesser-known historical aspects, as we journeyed to the ghats where we would stay.

As soon as we........

© News18