Ekta ka Maha Kumbh: the dawn of a new era in India

In this Maha Kumbh, the people of India and the world have witnessed the massive potential of India’s collective strength

The Maha Kumbh has successfully concluded in the holy city of Prayagraj. A grand Mahayajna of Unity has been completed. When the consciousness of a nation awakens, when it breaks free from the shackles of a centuries’-old mindset of subjugation, it breathes freely in the fresh air of renewed energy. The result of this was witnessed at the Ekta Ka Maha Kumbh (Maha Kumbh of Unity) in Prayagraj since January 13.

On January 22, 2024, during the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, I spoke about Devbhakti and Deshbhakti, devotion to the divine and to the nation. During the Maha Kumbh, gods and goddesses, saints, women, children, youth, senior citizens and people from all walks of life came together. We witnessed the awakened consciousness of the nation. This was Ekta Ka Maha Kumbh, where the sentiments of 140 crore Indians converged at the same place, at the same time, for this sacred occasion.

For 45 days, I witnessed crores of people from every corner of the country making their way to the Sangam. The wave of emotions kept rising. The holy confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati filled every pilgrim with enthusiasm, energy, and confidence.

The Maha Kumbh is a subject of study for modern management professionals, planning, and policy experts. Nowhere in the world is there any parallel or example of this scale. The world wondered how crores of people gathered at Prayagraj, without any formal invitation, and no prior communication on when to go. It was particularly heartening for me to see the overwhelming participation of India’s youth. The presence of the younger generation at the Maha Kumbh sends a profound message that the youth of India are the future torchbearers of our glorious culture and heritage. 

The number of people who arrived in Prayagraj has undoubtedly created new records. Nearly twice the population of the United States participated in this Ekta Ka Mahakumbh. But crores who could not be physically present were also emotionally connected to the occasion. If scholars of spirituality analyse the enthusiastic participation of crores of Indians, they will find that India, proud of its heritage, is now surging ahead with a new-found energy. I believe this is the dawn of a new era, which will script the future of a new India.

For thousands of years, the Maha Kumbh has strengthened India’s national consciousness. Every Purna Kumbh used to witness a gathering of saints, scholars and thinkers deliberating upon the state of society in their times. Their reflections used to provide a new direction to the nation and society. Every six years, during the Ardh Kumbh, these ideas were reviewed. After 12 Purna Kumbh occurrences, spanning 144 years, obsolete traditions were given up, newer ideas were embraced, and new traditions were created to move ahead with the times.

In this Maha Kumbh, our saints have once again given us a new message for India’s development journey. That message is Developed India, or Viksit Bharat.

At this Ekta Ka Maha Kumbh, every pilgrim, irrespective of caste, creed and ideology, came together. This was an embodiment of the vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Now, we must come together in the same spirit for the mission of building a developed India.

I am reminded of the incident where, as a little boy, Shri Krishna revealed a snapshot of the whole universe within His mouth to His mother, Yashoda. Similarly, in this Maha Kumbh, the people of India and the world have witnessed the massive potential of India’s collective strength. We must now move forward with this self-confidence and dedicate ourselves to building a developed India.

From Swami Vivekananda to Sri Aurobindo, every great thinker reminded us of the power of our collective resolve. Even Mahatma Gandhi experienced it during the freedom movement. Post-independence, if this collective strength had been correctly recognised and harnessed towards boosting the welfare of all, it would have become a great force for a newly independent nation. Unfortunately, it was not done earlier. But I am glad to witness it happening now.

From the Vedas to Vivekananda, from the ancient scriptures to modern satellites, India’s great traditions have shaped this nation. As a citizen, I pray that we draw new inspiration from the memories of our ancestors and saints. May this Ekta Ka Maha Kumbh help us move ahead with new resolutions. Let us make unity our guiding principle. Let us work with the understanding that service to the nation is service to the divine.

During my election campaign in Kashi, I had said, “Maa Ganga has called me.” This was not just an emotion but also a call of responsibility towards the cleanliness of our sacred rivers. Standing at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati in Prayagraj, my resolve became even stronger. I know that organising such a massive event was no easy task.

I pray to Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, and Maa Saraswati to forgive us in case there were any shortcomings in our devotion. I see janata janardan, the people, as an embodiment of divinity. In case there has been any shortcoming in our efforts to serve them, I also seek their forgiveness.

As a Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, I can proudly say that under the leadership of Yogi Ji, the administration and the people worked together to make this Ekta Ka Maha Kumbh a success. Be it the state or centre, there were no rulers or administrators, and instead, everyone was a devoted sevak. Sanitation workers, police, boatmen, drivers, and people serving food — everyone worked tirelessly.

The way the people of Prayagraj welcomed the pilgrims with open hearts despite facing many inconveniences was particularly inspirational. I express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to them and the people of Uttar Pradesh. I have always had unwavering confidence in the bright future of our nation.

Witnessing this Mahakumbh has strengthened my conviction manifold. Moved by the dedication, devotion and efforts of our people, I will soon visit Shri Somnath, the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas, to offer the fruits of these collective national efforts to Him and to pray for every Indian. The physical form of the Mahakumbh may have culminated successfully on Mahashivratri, but just like the eternal flow of the Ganga, the spiritual strength, national consciousness and unity that Maha Kumbh has awakened will continue to inspire us for generations to come.