Page 28 - Mann Ki Baat - English
P. 28
Maha Kumbh Through the Ages
A Journey of Faith and Heritage
The specialty of the Kumbh The Maha Kumbh Mela,
is also in its diversity. celebrated every 12 years, is
Crores of people congregate the world’s largest religious
for this event. Lakhs of saints, gathering. The event, deeply
thousands of traditions,
hundreds of sects, many rooted in Hindu mythology, is a
Akharas, everyone becomes a confluence of faith, culture, and
part of this event. There is no tradition.
discrimination anywhere, no Governed by astrological
one is big, no one is small.
alignments of the Sun, Moon,
-Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jupiter, the Mela represents
(in 'Mann ki Baat' address) India’s timeless quest for inner
peace and spiritual unity.
In Prayagraj, where the
Ganges, Yamuna, and the
mythical Saraswati rivers
converge, the Maha Kumbh
assumes its most iconic form.
Known as 'Tirthraj' or the King
of Pilgrimage Sites, Prayagraj’s
historical significance is
documented in ancient texts and
travelogues. From the Mauryan
and Gupta eras to the Mughal
period, the city has evolved
into a sacred and cultural hub.
The Chinese traveler Xuanzang,
who visited India in the 7th
century, described Prayagraj
as a region of immense natural
beauty, prosperity, and cultural
depth. Apart from this, emperor
Akbar fortified its status as a
key pilgrimage site, and colonial
administrators like James
Prinsep chronicled its grandeur,
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