Mahakumbh 2025 Not just a religious gathering but also a confluence of cultures

Shijagurumayum Saratchandra Sharma
Contd from previous issue
After regrouping at the previous point, the journalists then set out for Sector 7 where one of the major attractions of the festival - Kalagram is being set up to add further aesthetic to the magnificent spectacle of faith and devotion and show us that this Mahakumbh is not just a religious congregation. The commitment of the Ministry of Culture, Uttar Pradesh Government and other Central agencies to showcasing the Nation’s timeless traditions through crafts, cuisine, and cultural performances was at the fore at Kalagram.
We were caught by surprise when we entered the magnificent makeshift gate and the work of artistry inside the premises of Kalagram. Since most of us were already exhausted, we headed straight to a corner dedicated to food stalls offering culinary delights from different regions of the country. Although we were missing our local cuisines, we tried South Indian vegetable biryani and sambhar to re-energize ourselves for the rest of the day.
Afternoon finishing the quick meal, we were greeted by Amrish Trivedi, an official of the Ministry of Culture who also guided us to a zone known as "immersive zone" where we had the 5D theatrical experience of visuals showing the sacred descent of Ganga from heaven to earth.
Later, he took us to the North East Zone Cultural Centre where the craft products from across the North East States were put on sale. It is one of the seven zonal centres set up in the premises of Kalagram. We spent our time there talking to our fellow Northeasterners including Dovi Vashum from Ukhrul representing Manipur and vending hand woven shawls, caps and other items including wooden belt and hair pins. Like other fellow vendors, the State representative maintained that the average sale sticks around Rs 3 thousand per day. His trip to Prayagraj was a good experience even as the sale was not good enough, he said while adding that he will be there for a total of 15 days before another batch of vendors from Manipur replaces him.
We then moved to an exhibition zone where photos of artefacts related to Mahakumbh, Sadhus etc, were displayed. And adjacent to the zone was a massive open air theatre with a well decorated stage where artistes from across the country produce captivating cultural performances in front of both the domestic and foreign visitors.
In fact, Kalagram was a complete cultural experience for me and I see it as a powerful symbol of India's cultural unity. It is a must-visit destination for anyone attending the Mahakumbh this time.
Later in the day, we visited Uttar Pradesh Darsan Mandapam, one of the twelve State Pavilions which was not so far from the Kalagram venue. The venue showcases host State's diverse religious and cultural offerings through cultural programmes, points depicting various tourism circuits and a collection of replicas of important Mandirs under one roof.
Visit to the Triveni Sangam
Our hectic tour officially came to an end on the third day with most of the visiting scribes and conducting PIB officials taking a dip at the sacred Triveni Sangam. A new PIB official, Dileep Kumar Shukla visited us at the tent cottage at around 11 am and led us to Arail Ghat along the Yamuna river. Even as it was a normal day, lakhs of devotees filled the long stretched river bank to either take a dip nearby or waiting to visit the Sangam which was a few kilometres away from the bank.
Thanks to the PIB team, the scribes headed to the Sangam on two boats off a low crowded VIP ferry point to witness the unending movements of boats before finally taking dip at the Sangam among thousands of pilgrims. Some of us also collected water and soil from the Sangam since it is believed to be pious and has cleansing effects.
The PIB team then saw off us at Prayagraj airport from where we headed to Delhi before returning to our respective States.
Though short, the tour was a deeply enriching experience. The tour not only helped us to explore the religious and cultural extravaganza but it also acted as a platform for journalists to get to know each other and collaborate with them. I would also like to personally thank Moirangthem Rustam and Gopajit Das who played conducting officials and remained with us all along the trip and ensured journalists face no difficulty.
With a heavy heart, I would also like to extend my sympathy to the families who lost their loved ones during a stampede on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya at Prayagraj and pray no similar incident occurs during the festival that will conclude on February 26.