Over 500,000 Nepalis visit Maha Kumbha in India

BY DHIRENDRA PRASAD SAH,Janakpur, Feb. 26: People from various districts of Nepal, including the Madhes Province, have participated in the Maha Kumbha Mela currently being held in Uttar Pradesh, India, in large numbers. 

The participation of Nepalis is significant, with the belief that bathing in various ways during the Maha Kumbh results in the purification of sins and attainment of salvation. 

It is estimated that over 500,000 Nepalis have gone to bathe in the Maha Kumbha, based on observations of the transportation methods such as buses, jeeps, cars and trains.

It is believed that an average of Rs. 15,000 has been spent by each person attending the Maha Kumbha Mela. This amounts to an estimated total expenditure of Rs. 7.5 billion just from Nepal. Looking specifically at the Madhes Province, it seems that, on average, two people from each family attended the Mela. 

According to the 2021 census, there are 1,156,383 households in Madhes, with 26,633 families living in rented houses and 1,117,188 in their houses. If two people from each family attended the Mela, the total expenditure per family would be around Rs. 30,000. Thus, it is estimated that Rs. 33.5 billion have been spent by people from Madhes alone during the Maha Kumbha.

The Maha Kumbha Mela is a month-long event held at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj (formerly known as Allahabad), India. It is claimed that the present Maha Kumbha is held once every 144 years, according to astrological dates. The Mela officially started on January 26, 2025, and is scheduled to end on February 25, 2025. However, the flow of people going there continues.

Normally, Maha Kumbha Mela takes place every 12 years, while the Kumbha Mela occurs every four years at different locations like Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayagraj, said Pandit Badrinarayan. Devotees believe that bathing at these sites during specific months results in salvation. 

Millions of Nepali people from various districts including Kathmandu, Himalayas, his hills and the Tarai region have traveled to the Mela. Many Nepali devotees traveled by reserved buses, cars, jeeps and other vehicles with family members and relatives. Others traveled by train or plane.

However, several Nepali devotees have tragically lost their lives in accidents while attending the Mela. In one incident, a Scorpio vehicle from the district of Saptari met with an accident near Gorakhpur, leading to the deaths of four people, including three from Saptari. Another accident occurred when a jeep from Mahottari crashed in Bihar, India, killing five people, including four members from a single family.

There have also been reports of people missing in the Mela, with their photographs being shared on social media in an attempt to locate them, but there is no official confirmation on how many have been found or remain missing.

Moreover, many of the returning Nepali devotees are falling ill, with symptoms such as fever, cold, cough, diarrhea, and skin diseases. A 70-year-old devotee who returned from the Mela mentioned that these health issues have been affecting many.