Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (February 27, 2025) said that the just concluded Mahakumbh at Prayagraj demonstrated what a newly awakened national consciousness looked like after it had broken free of a mindset of slavery.
In pictures: Maha Kumbh 2025 comes to an end with final ‘snan’ on Maha Shivratri
Devotees gather to take a dip at the Triveni Sangam on the occasion of Maha Shivratri and the culmination of Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj on February 26, 2025.
A drone shot shows the Sangam area during Maha Shivratri on February 26, 2025.
Devotees perform rituals as they take a holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of Maha Shivratri on February 26, 2025.
Devotees perform rituals at Sangam on February 26, 2025.
An aerial view of devotees at Sangam on February 26, 2025.
The day breaks at Sangam on the final day of the Maha Kumbh on February 26, 2025.
Government officials shower flower petals from a helicopter on pilgrims at Sangam on the final day of the Maha Kumbh on February 26, 2025.
Devotees wait for dawn to take a holy dip at the Sangam on the final day of the Maha Kumbh on February 26, 2025.
A sadhu offers prayers near a ‘Rudraksha bead’ Shivalinga during the Maha Kumbh on February 26, 2025.
Devotees cross a narrow stream of the Ganga as they leave after taking a holy dip at the Sangam on February 26, 2025.
A helicopter showers flower petals on devotees at the Sangam on February 26, 2025.
Devotees gather at the Sangam on the occasion of Maha Shivratri and the culmination of Maha Kumbh on February 26, 2025.
Boats of devotees are anchored at the Sangam the final day of Maha Kumbh on February 26, 2025.
Devotees at the Sangam on on February 26, 2025.
Devotees take a holy bath on the last day of the Maha Kumbh on February 26, 2025.
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Penning a blog posted on his App, the NaMo App, and other social media sites, he said that, “the Maha Kumbh has concluded. The ‘mahayagna’ of unity has concluded.”
“When the consciousness of a nation awakens, when it breaks all the shackles of hundreds of years of slavery to breathe with a new consciousness, then such a sight presents itself that we witnessed in the Maha Kumbh of unity in Prayagraj after January 13,” he said.
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He also apologised to “Mother Ganga, Mother Yamuna, Mother Saraswati” (the three rivers said to meet at Sangam in Prayagraj), as well as people who visited the Kumbh, for any shortcoming in the services rendered. He noted that making such a massive arrangement was not easy. At least 30 devotees had died during a stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which drew devotees in huge numbers from across the country.
Prime Minister Modi said that more devotees than were ever imagined took the holy dip in Sangam, asserting that India was now forging ahead with new energy and that this pointed to a change of era which will write a new future for India.
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The Uttar Pradesh government claims that over 65 crore people visited the sacred site in Prayagraj since the Maha Kumbh began on January 13.
Writing in his blog, Prime Minister Modi praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying as an MP from Uttar Pradesh he can proudly say that the government, administration and people collectively under Adityanath’s leadership made this “Maha Kumbh of unity” successful.
He added that the holding of the Maha Kumbh has become a study subject for management professionals, and planning and policy experts, as there is no other example of such a gigantic event in the world.
He said the tradition of Maha Kumbh has been reinvigorating India’s national consciousness for thousands of years, suggesting new ways to the country and society. “This time the Maha Kumbh of this kind came after 144 years and has given the message of a new chapter in India’s development journey. The message is of ‘Viksit Bharat’,” he said.
People from every region, including abroad, caste and ideology were one in the Maha Kumbh, he said, calling upon people to come together in a similar way for building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The faith of 140 crore countrymen had connected to this festival together at one time, he said, adding that the number of devotees has definitely made a record as people numbering almost double that of the population of the United States took the holy dip.
The administration had made its estimate based on the experience of previous Kumbhs, he said, noting that the real numbers turned out to be more than imagined.
“This boosts the faith that India’s young generation is the carrier of our values and culture, and understand its responsibility in taking it forward. They are committed to it,” he said.
He said said that this pilgrimage to Prayagraj gave the message of unity and harmony, and invoked an incident from the epic Ramayana in which boatmen king Nishad Raaj had met Lord Ram at a place which is in the vicinity of the Uttar Pradesh city.
Noting that devotees in crores turned up at the sacred confluence without any invitation, the prime minister said he can never forget the sight of people reflecting in blissful content after bathing there.
