When Arjun stood on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, overwhelmed by doubt and despair, Krishna spoke to him of dharma, duty, and the eternal nature of the self. But words alone could not shatter his illusion. It was only when Krishna revealed his Virat Swarup—his infinite cosmic form spanning the entire universe—that Arjun’s perspective transformed. In that moment, he saw the interconnectedness of all existence, the insignificance of individual egos, and the vast, eternal force that governs creation.
Much like Arjun needed to witness the Virat Swarup to grasp the profound truth, to truly understand Bharatiya civilization, one must witness its grandest manifestation—the Kumbh Mela. Kumbh is not just an event; it is the living, breathing consciousness of India manifesting in its most expansive form. It is where the past, present, and future merge; where faith, devotion, philosophy, and humanity intertwine, creating a symphony of timeless continuity.
A Confluence Beyond Rivers
Just as the Triveni Sangam—the meeting of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the unseen Saraswati—creates a sacred confluence of waters, I felt that Kumbh is a confluence of emotions, beliefs, ideas, and experiences. It is where the rich and poor, kings and beggars, scholars and illiterates, saints and skeptics, the powerful and the powerless, the young and the old, men, women, and transgender individuals come together as equals. Walking through the crowd, I realized how people moved shoulder to shoulder, without caring who stood or walked next to them. In that moment, all social constructs collapsed—all that remained was a shared human experience.
At Kumbh, a corporate leader who commands thousands in the boardroom is standing humbly in line next to a simple ascetic who owns nothing but a loincloth. A foreign tourist with no knowledge of Sanskrit is chanting Har Har Mahadev with the same passion as a devout sadhu. A scientist is observing the rituals with curiosity, while an unknown devotee participates with deep conviction, yet both experience the same spiritual energy. It is here that one can witness how distinctions dissolve, and what remains is the pure essence of humanity.
The Power of Being Ordinary
For the first time in my life, I found the power of being ordinary. Kumbh is the great equalizer, a place where the power of being ordinary is celebrated. Here, egos, status, possessions, and authority lose meaning. The grandeur of emperors and the humility of ascetics coexist seamlessly. In a sea of millions, no one is superior, no one is inferior, each is just a seeker on a shared journey.
Imagine a king stepping into the holy waters beside a beggar, both seeking purification. A billionaire and a wandering monk may share a simple meal at a community kitchen, both nourished by the same hands. A soldier, a poet, a teacher, and a farmer may walk side by side, drawn by the same spiritual magnetism.
A Civilization Rekindling Itself
Kumbh is not just about faith; it is about Bharat rediscovering itself, time and again. It is the rekindling of a collective consciousness that has preserved this civilization for thousands of years. In a world that often emphasizes division, Kumbh reminds us that we are all part of something far greater than ourselves—a civilization that has endured not through conquest, but through the power of unity, wisdom, and shared experience.
To stand amidst the Virat Swarup of Kumbh is to feel the heartbeat of an eternal culture, to witness the unseen force that has held this land together for millennia. It is an experience that transforms, much like the vision of Krishna transformed Arjun—not through words, but through the sheer, overwhelming power of realization.
Kumbh: The Force Behind Circular Economy
Beyond its spiritual and cultural dimensions, Kumbh is also an economic powerhouse, a force that fuels a circular economy. Millions of devotees travel from different parts of the country, supporting local businesses, artisans, transport providers, accommodation facilities, and small vendors. The impact on Prayagraj’s local economy is immense.
Imagine this—if an average person spends ₹500 per day, and if there are one crore visitors daily, this translates to ₹5,000 crore of daily transactions. Over a month, the economic turnover touches nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore, roughly $3 trillion in economic activity! This money does not just circulate among big businesses—it uplifts small shopkeepers, street vendors, rickshaw pullers, boatmen, and countless others.
A street vendor selling tea to a group of pilgrims, a small dhaba owner feeding thousands at a minimal cost, an artisan selling handmade Rudraksha malas to a foreign traveler—each of them is woven into this vast economic ecosystem. The economy of Kumbh does not run on large corporations alone—it thrives on the spirit of self-sustaining interdependence, where everyone benefits, and no one is left behind.
A Living, Breathing Nation
Kumbh is a mirror to Bharat’s soul. It is not just a religious gathering; it is a civilizational phenomenon, a social, economic, and cultural marvel. It shows that Bharat is not just a land—it is a living, breathing force, a consciousness that continues to evolve while staying deeply rooted in its essence.
And just like Krishna’s Virat Swarup, Kumbh reminds us of who we truly are—not just individuals, but part of a larger, eternal flow, connected to each other, to our ancestors, and to the divine cosmic rhythm that has sustained this land for millennia.
(The Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister, Haryana)
