KUMBH: Where Karma meets Dharma

Courtesy: oldindianphotos.in

The largest human gathering in the world, where pilgrims from across the seven seas visit this holy site to wash away their karmas—many without even knowing how they accumulated them.

According to history, the sites of the Kumbh are the four sacred points where drops of Amrit fell, believed to cleanse all sins accumulated through human existence.

Originally, it might have been a gathering of monks on their eternal journey to the Supreme. But over time, it gained momentum, and people began to see it as a path or gateway to absolve their sins.

At the Kumbh, there is no class, creed, or religion—anyone who believes in the Supreme can take a dip, seeking to cleanse themselves of the unknown sins they may have accumulated in this life or a past one.

Courtesy: kumbhcampindia.com

A new trend is emerging, one that might be overwhelming for the Indian population. The Kumbh is no longer just a sacred dip for salvation—it has become a PR stunt, a TRP-driven spectacle, or even a carnival for many. Social media has reshaped mainstream perceptions, reducing the event to a mere human gathering. Ironically, those flooding the internet with posts are often the same ones taking the holy dip.

Many don’t even know the state of the river where the ritual takes place. Hinduism teaches that salvation is ultimately achieved through karma, which forms the foundation of dharma. But for the Kumbh at Prayagraj in 2025, the situation seems reversed—people are abandoning their dharma just to strengthen their minds enough to endure their karma.

To put it in modern terms, it's like scoring a 100 percentile in JEE while failing 12th grade—it might look impressive, but with a broken foundation, all that effort ultimately leads to failure.

Courtesy: greenubuntu.com

Our scriptures are among the most flexible and liberal, emphasizing that it doesn’t matter how you pray, whom you pray to, or the means through which you pray. What truly matters is a pure mind and righteous actions.

Yet, at the Kumbh Mela, this very principle stands questioned.

Courtesy: indiatoday.in

At least 120 people lost their lives in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh—people who were on their way to cleanse themselves, yet didn’t seem to mind if a few more sins were committed in the process. But in the end, all sins are washed away at the Sangam, right? If so, why does God himself come every 144 years to take a dip? If a single dip could purify everything, why would the creator need one every 144 years? Or is it just a symbolic act to remind us of what we truly stand for?

In reality, you can only cleanse what you have unknowingly acquired. Your karma, however, is untouchable—not even God can alter it. Karma is nature itself, unshakable and self-sustaining. It has witnessed power greater than yours, dissolved civilizations more advanced than yours, and raised generations long before you. Some call it nature; we call it Mother Nature. Compared to it, we are insignificant. Whether you take a dip or not, the Sangam does not care. It does not wait for you—whether you are a Chief Minister, a monk, or anyone else. It existed before you and will remain long after you. You are nothing but a mere pawn in its vast, unstoppable force.

Now, let’s focus on the real issue—why did this happen? Where was the administration? And if it did happen, why are those responsible not held accountable? The failure of administration and the committees in charge is evident. But what about us—the common people—who only think of ourselves and not our surroundings? Are Indians truly civilized? A question worth asking. If not, then how did the descendants of the world’s oldest civilization turn into people who are not even considered humane?

Lastly, coming to the Kumbh may or may not resolve your karma—that is up to you. But sacrificing your dharma just to purify your karma won’t take you far. Even the VIP treatments at Kumbh need to be questioned—why does this VIP culture exist only in our religion? There is no VIP lane at Hajj, nor in the Vatican. But beyond that, our own people need to be questioned. I don’t know where this country is heading, but I can say for sure—the end is not far. We are trying to cleanse ourselves of sins we don’t even understand while preparing for a future beyond our control.

At Kumbh, everyone knows their sins, and everyone tries to rid themselves of them. But while you may wash your body, how will you cleanse your karma?