Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest religious gathering, concludes today as devotees rush for the final holy dip at Triveni Sangam on Maha Shivratri. The 45-day festival, which began on January 13, saw over 63 crore pilgrims flock to Prayagraj for the sacred event. Among them were prominent figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, actors Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar, and business tycoon Gautam Adani.
The Kumbh Mela is held every three years across four cities, but the Maha Kumbh, which occurs once every 12 years, is considered especially auspicious. It is believed that taking a dip at Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—washes away all sins.
As the festival draws to a close, here’s a look at the key moments that made Maha Kumbh 2025 truly memorable.
PM Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Other Leaders Attend
On February 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Prayagraj and took a boat tour of the Sangam alongside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath before performing a holy dip.
Dressed in a saffron jacket and blue track pants, with rudraksha beads in hand, PM Modi chanted prayers as he immersed himself fully in the sacred waters. Calling it a “moment of divine connection,” he said he felt “blessed” to take part in the ritual, just like the millions of devotees who had gathered for the Maha Kumbh.
President Murmu Follows Historic Precedent
President Droupadi Murmu became only the second Indian President to take a dip at Triveni Sangam, following Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Among the prominent political figures who attended the Maha Kumbh were Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP President JP Nadda, and Union Ministers Amit Shah, Kiren Rijiju, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Bollywood Shines at Maha Kumbh
The Maha Kumbh also drew a host of Bollywood celebrities, eager to take a holy dip at the Sangam. Among them were veterans like Hema Malini and Anupam Kher, as well as Milind Soman and his wife Ankita Konwar, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha, Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif, Tamannaah Bhatia, Adah Sharma, and Poonam Pandey.
Choreographer-filmmaker Remo D’Souza and singer Guru Randhawa also joined the celebrations. Arjun Reddy star Vijay Deverakonda attended the festival with family and friends.
For actor Preity Zinta, this was her third Maha Kumbh experience. She summed up her visit in three words: “Magical, heartwarming, and a bit sad.”
Maha Kumbh Goes Global
The Maha Kumbh 2025 attracted international visitors, including renowned global personalities.
Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, arrived in Prayagraj on the festival’s opening day. However, due to allergies she developed on the second day, she was unable to take a holy dip.
Meanwhile, during their India tour, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and his girlfriend, actor Dakota Johnson, also visited Prayagraj and participated in the sacred ritual by taking a dip at Triveni Sangam.
‘Digital Snan’ – More Than Just a Buzzword
For those unable to attend Maha Kumbh 2025 in person, a start-up introduced a unique ‘digital photo snan’ service. Devotees could send their photographs via WhatsApp, which were then immersed in the sacred Triveni Sangam on their behalf. In a viral video, entrepreneur Deepak Goyal explained that his start-up guarantees a digital snan within 24 hours for a fee of ₹1,100.
Industrialist Harsh Goenka also shared a flyer promoting a similar ‘Maha Kumbh Snan’ service for ₹500, joking on X (formerly Twitter), “Breaking News: Salvation now available on WhatsApp!”
Taking the concept even further, a woman attempted a real-time digital snan by dunking her phone into the Ganga while on a video call with her husband. In another viral video, she is seen submerging her phone six times, helping her husband experience the sacred dip remotely.
IIT Baba, Muscle Baba, and Other Sadhus in the Spotlight
Maha Kumbh 2025 saw several unique babas drawing attention, including IIT Baba Abhey Singh—a former aerospace engineer who left behind his scientific career to embark on a spiritual path.
Kabootar Wale Baba: The Pigeon Saint of Maha Kumbh
Mahant Rajpuri Ji Maharaj, famously known as the ‘Kabootar Wale Baba’ (The Pigeon Saint), also captivated devotees at Maha Kumbh 2025. The seer has spent nearly a decade with Hari Puri, a pigeon that perches on his head. For Mahant Rajpuri Ji, the bird symbolizes his philosophy of compassion and harmony with all living beings.
Meet the Unique Babas of Maha Kumbh 2025
Among the many fascinating figures at Maha Kumbh 2025 was Amarjeet Baba, also known as Anaaj Wale Baba. He cultivates crops like wheat, millet, gram, and peas on his head as a tribute to environmental conservation.
Another striking presence was Atma Prem Giri Maharaj, popularly called ‘Muscular Baba’. Standing 7 feet tall with a well-built physique, he hails from Russia but resides in Nepal, dedicating his life to promoting Hinduism.
Then there’s Chhotu Baba, known for his unusual penance. Standing at just 3 feet 8 inches, he has taken a vow not to bathe for 32 years.
Meanwhile, Kaanta Wale Baba left devotees astonished by lying on a bed of thorns, demonstrating an extraordinary act of faith and endurance.
Rudraksha Baba: A Walking Symbol of Devotion
Draped in 11,000 Rudraksha beads weighing over 30 kilograms, Rudraksha Baba stands as a powerful embodiment of deep devotion to Lord Shiva.
Tragedy at Maha Kumbh: Stampede Claims 30 Lives
A stampede at Maha Kumbh 2025 resulted in 30 fatalities and left 60 others injured last month. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of January 29 at the Sangam area, as devotees rushed to take a holy dip on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days of the festival.
