Page 42 - MANN KI BAAT (English)

The Divine Rivers

Festivals that Bind a Nation

“'Kumbh', 'Pushkaram' and 'Ganga Sagar Mela' - these festivals of ours
are festivals thatenhance our social coalescence, harmony, unity.
These festivals connect the people of India with theIndian traditions
and just as our scriptures have emphasised on Dharma, Artha, Kama,
Moksha in theworld. Our festivals and traditions also empower every
aspect - spiritual, social, cultural andeconomic.”
PM Modi in his 118th ‘Mann ki Baat‘ address

Festivals celebrated around rivers in India hold deep cultural, religious,
and ecological significance. Rivers are considered sacred and are
often personified as deities in Hinduism, believed to purify the soul
and sustain life. Many festivals revolve around expressing gratitude,
seeking blessings, and performing rituals along riverbanks.

Kumbh

Held four times within a 12-year cycle, the Kumbh Mela rotates among
four sacred locations in India: Haridwar on the Ganges, Ujjain on the
Shipra, Nashik along the Godavari, and Prayagraj at the confluence of
the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati.

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