Maha Kumbh 2025

• 06 Jan 2025

Why in News? 

The upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, scheduled from 13^th January to 26^th February, 2025, is set to transcend its traditional spiritual significance by incorporating extensive health, educational, and environmental initiatives.  

Key Points 

• Initiatives Taken For Maha Kumbh 2025  
  • Netra Kumbh (Eye Camp): 
    • 'Netra Kumbh' has been inaugurated, spanning nine acres.  
    • Over 500 doctors from more than 150 hospitals aim to treat five lakh (500,000) eye patients.  
    • The camp plans to distribute three lakh (300,000) free spectacles and perform 50,000 cataract surgeries.  
    • During the 2019 Kumbh, the initiative earned a place in the Limca Book of World Records by distributing 1.5 lakh (150,000) spectacles and screening three lakh (300,000) individuals.  
    • Patients requiring further treatment will receive referral cards for surgeries at hospitals near their residences. 
  • Dant Kumbh (Dental Camp):  
    • For the first time, a 'Dant Kumbh' will be organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).  
    • Running from 10^th January to 26^th February, the camp will feature five dental chairs.      
      • Each chair is expected to handle 500 dental examinations per day, providing free treatments and distributing complimentary oral care products to devotees. 
  • Gyan Kumbh (Knowledge Confluence): 
    • The Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas is organizing the 'Gyan Mahakumbh' in bringing together over a thousand prominent educators, university vice-chancellors, education ministers, and secretaries from both central and state governments.  
    • The event will focus on the implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020 with sessions scheduled from 7^th to 9^th February.  
    • Discussions will cover topics such as the role of private educational institutions, women's education, student engagement, traditional Indian knowledge systems, and the significance of Indian languages. 
  • Green Kumbh Initiative: 
    • In a bid to promote environmental consciousness, volunteers associated with the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) environmental activities have launched the 'Ek Thaila, Ek Thali' (One Bag, One Plate) initiative.  
      • The campaign aims to distribute 1.5 million steel plates and two million cloth bags to pilgrims, reducing the use of disposable items and encouraging sustainable practices.  
    • As of the third week of December, over 150,000 steel plates have been distributed to organizations operating food services within the mela area. 
    • Additionally, a 'Harit Mahakumbh' (Green Kumbh) event is scheduled for 31st January  at the Gyan Mahakumbh. 
  • Vidya Kumbh: 
    • Children from laborer families, along with their families, will have the opportunity to participate in Vidya Kumbh, enabling them to experience the cultural and educational aspects of the Maha Kumbh. 
    • Free books, pens, and other educational materials will be distributed to children to help them progress in their studies. 
    • Awareness sessions will be held for the parents of laborer families to help them understand the importance of education and encourage them to support their children’s learning. 
  • Outreach to Underprivileged Children: 
    • Volunteers from Vidya Bharati, an organization linked to the RSS, plan to facilitate visits to the Maha Kumbh for children living in slums, along with their families, ensuring inclusivity and broader participation in the cultural and spiritual festivities. 
    • These multifaceted initiatives reflect a holistic approach to the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, intertwining spirituality with health, education, and environmental stewardship, thereby enriching the experience for millions of participants. 

Maha Kumbh 

• Kumbh Mela comes under United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 
• It is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. 
• It takes place on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik, the Shipra river in Ujjain, the Ganges in Haridwar, and the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati river in Prayagraj. The confluence is referred to as the ‘Sangam‘.