Kumbh Mela 2025: A Record Gathering and Rising Sects in Modi's India

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The Kumbh Mela, held in Prayagraj, India, is anticipated to attract over 400 million devotees, marking it the largest gathering of humanity on Earth, according to government estimates. This festival occurs every 12 years at sacred sites believed to hold drops of nectar from the Hindu god Vishnu. Among the notable features of this year’s Mela is a significant rise in the number of sadhus—Hindu holy men—initiated, with reports suggesting over 10,000 new sadhus committed during this event.

The Kumbh Mela has increasingly become a platform for highlighting the cultural and political significance of the akharas, the monastic orders comprising sadhus. Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the akharas, noted a shift in youth interest towards traditional Hindu practices, attributing this "awakening" to the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The government allocated approximately 70 billion Indian rupees (around $840 million) to support the event, further intertwining politics with religion.

In a notable first, around 1,000 women are set to be initiated as sadhus, reflecting efforts to diversify the traditionally male-centric akharas while addressing broader social issues.

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