A Personal Experience at the Maha Kumbh Mela
The Moment Everything Changed
Q: What happened on January 29, 2025?
It was a normal morning. I woke up, took a bath, prayed, had breakfast, and left for work. As I sat in the metro, I opened YouTube like always. But then—a shocking news headline caught my eye.
"Stampede at Maha Kumbh Mela – More than 10 dead!"
Suddenly, my body started shaking. My hands felt cold. My heartbeat raced. My mind went blank.
I immediately called my mother.
Talking to My Mother
Q: What did you ask your mother?
I asked her, "Did you hear about the news? What happened at the Kumbh Mela?"
She replied calmly, "So many people go there, these things happen in huge crowds. What can we do?"
Her words didn’t help. I was still trembling in the metro.
Q: Did you tell her about the stampede?
No. I didn’t want to worry her. Instead, I asked, "What are you doing right now?"
She said she had just finished her bath and was going to pray.
I wanted to tell her everything but stopped myself. I just said, "Okay, finish your prayers. I’ll talk to you later." But my mind was still stuck on the news.
My Sister’s Reaction
Q: Did you talk to anyone else?
Yes, I called my sister. I told her about the stampede and said, "Please don’t go to the Maha Kumbh Mela."
I was still feeling anxious. My body was shaking. My mind was racing with thoughts.
Why Did This Affect Me So Much?
Q: What happened on January 14, 2025, that made you feel so connected to the Kumbh Mela?
On January 14 (Makar Sankranti), I went to the Maha Kumbh Mela with my mother, father, and aunt.
At 5:40 AM, we took a holy dip in the Sangam (the meeting of three rivers). It was freezing cold, but the energy was different—pure and divine.
That day, 6 to 7 crore people were at the Kumbh Mela. But everything felt well-managed. There was no sign of chaos or mismanagement.
Q: What else did you do at the Kumbh Mela?
I explored the Akhara camps (spiritual groups), walked through the crowd, and took in the grand atmosphere.
It felt once in a lifetime. I was so excited that for the next few days, I couldn’t stop talking about my experience.
But just 15 days later, when I heard about the stampede, my heart sank.
How Did This Affect My Mental State?
Q: What were you feeling after hearing the bad news?I felt extremely disturbed.
- I couldn’t focus on work.
- I kept thinking about the people who died.
- It felt like I had lost someone close, even though I didn’t know the victims.
- I started blaming the government, the police, the management—even Yogi and Modi!
I just couldn’t get it out of my head.
Q: How did you try to calm yourself?
On January 31, I forced myself to meditate for an hour.
I asked myself:"Why is this affecting me so much? Why am I feeling this deep pain?"
Then I realized:
- Every day, people are born and people die.
- Some celebrate, some mourn.
- Life always has two sides—good and bad.
But my mind was only focusing on the negative.
My Mother’s Explanation
Q: Did anyone help you understand the situation?
Yes, my mother did.
She said, "This is not the first time people have died at the Kumbh Mela. It happens every time."
Then she explained something I had never thought about—the role of Rahu and Ketu in such events.
The Story of Maha Kumbh Mela & Rahu-Ketu
Q: What is the mythological story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela?
Long ago, there was a war between the Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons).
The demons had become stronger because the King of Gods, Indra, was cursed by a sage.
To regain their power, the gods and demons decided to churn the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to get Amrita (the nectar of immortality).
Q: How did Rahu and Ketu come into the story?
When the Amrita (nectar of immortality) appeared, the Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons) were eager to drink it.
To trick the demons, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini, a beautiful woman. She told everyone that she would distribute the nectar fairly but secretly gave it only to the gods.
One of the demons, Svarbhanu, realized the trick. He disguised himself as a god and sat between Surya (Sun) and Chandra (Moon) to drink the nectar.
Just as the nectar touched his throat, Surya and Chandra recognized him and informed Lord Vishnu.
Immediately, Vishnu cut off Svarbhanu's head with his Sudarshan Chakra.
But because he had already tasted the Amrita, he became immortal in two parts:
- His head became Rahu.
- His body became Ketu.
Since then, Rahu and Ketu have hated the Sun and Moon and take revenge by swallowing them—causing solar and lunar eclipses.
Why Do Tragedies Happen at the Kumbh Mela?
Q: How do Rahu and Ketu affect the Maha Kumbh Mela?
Rahu and Ketu control illusions, confusion, and karma.
- Rahu creates chaos—large crowds, stampedes, confusion.
- Ketu causes sudden tragedies—unplanned events, deaths, karmic consequences.
During the Kumbh Mela, the energy of Rahu and Ketu is at its peak, increasing the chances of unexpected events.
Q: What is the importance of Mauni Amavasya?
It is believed that on Mauni Amavasya, the universe is filled with a special divine energy. This makes all spiritual practices—like meditation, fasting, and bathing in holy rivers—100 times more powerful and rewarding.
My Final Realization
Q: How did you feel after learning all this?
After understanding this deeper meaning, I felt more at peace.
Instead of only seeing the politics, mismanagement, and tragedy, I started seeing the bigger picture.
- The Maha Kumbh Mela is more than just a fair—it’s an ancient spiritual event.
- Rahu-Ketu’s energy plays a role in what happens there.
- Life will always have both joy and sorrow.
This experience taught me an important lesson:💡 "We cannot control everything, but we can control how we react to things."
