Famous industrialist Gautam Adani’s company Adani Group, in collaboration with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), has started Mahaprasad Seva in the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Under this service, Mahaprasad will be distributed to about 1 lakh devotees daily, which also includes the help of 18,000 sanitation workers. Mahaprasad will include roti, dal, rice, vegetables and sweets. Additionally, Adani Group will also provide special golf cart facilities for the disabled, elderly and children, so that they can easily move around the fair.
Adani Group has decided to print approximately 1 crore ‘Aarti Sangrah’ books in partnership with Gorakhpur-based Geeta Press. These books will contain devotional songs for Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Vishnu, Durga and other deities, which will be distributed free of cost at the Maha Kumbh Mela. According to media reports, around 40 crore devotees are expected to attend the Mahakumbh this year, and it is being organized with a budget of Rs 6,382 crore.
The Maha Kumbh Mela will last for 30 to 45 days, which will be held from January 13 to February 26, 2025. Major bathing dates include Paush Purnima Snan (inauguration day) on 13 January, Makar Sankranti Snan on 15 January, Mauni Amavasya Snan (Shahi Snan) on 29 January, Basant Panchami Snan (Shahi Snan) on 3 February, Maghi Purnima Snan on 12 February. , and Mahashivratri Snan (concluding day) on 26 February.
Mahakumbh, held every 12 years in Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain and Nashik, is considered to be the grandest religious event in itself, in which lakhs of devotees from all over the world come to take bath in the Sangam. It is believed that bathing in the holy river destroys sins and attains salvation.
