Mon Jan 13 17:08:47 UTC 2025: ## Maha Kumbh 2025 Kicks Off with Millions of Pilgrims and Eccentric Saints

**Prayagraj, India –** The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, commenced on Monday in Prayagraj, drawing millions of pilgrims to the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers for a holy dip. The six-week event, occurring for the first time in 144 years during a rare celestial alignment, is expected to attract 40-45 crore attendees, according to the Uttar Pradesh government.

This year’s Maha Kumbh is already proving to be a spectacle, featuring a colorful array of devotees. A biker seer arrived on a Harley Davidson, while another, known as “Splendor Baba,” completed a 14-day journey from Gujarat on a three-wheeler. Other notable figures include “Chabhi Wale Baba,” carrying a 20kg key, and Chhotu Baba, a 3-foot-tall ascetic who hasn’t bathed in 32 years. Chai Wale Baba, a former tea seller turned monk, continues his vow of silence, surviving on ten cups of tea daily while providing free coaching to civil service aspirants. Other unique attendees include a seer who has kept his hand raised for nine years and Environment Baba, promoting tree planting.

International visitors are also participating in the event, with foreign tourists from countries including South Korea, Japan, France, and Brazil expressing their awe and spiritual connection to the festival. One notable figure is Michael, a former US Army soldier turned ascetic, now known as Baba Mokshapuri, who has dedicated his life to Sanatan Dharma.

Authorities have implemented measures to manage the massive crowd, including successfully reuniting around 250 people with their families in the first few hours. Two sisters from Jharkhand even devised a creative solution to avoid getting separated, tying their bangles together with a red ribbon.

Key bathing dates throughout the Maha Kumbh include January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), February 3 (Basant Panchami), February 12 (Maghi Purnima), and February 26 (Maha Shivaratri). The Uttar Pradesh government has deployed significant resources to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of this unprecedented gathering of faith.

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