Devotees gather in Mana as Pushkar Kumbh returns after 12 years

Time of India

15-05-2025

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Dehradun: The 12-year
Pushkar Kumbh
began with rituals at Keshav Prayag, drawing thousands of pilgrims to
Mana village
near the India-China border in Chamoli on Thursday. The event, rooted in religious tradition, is held when Jupiter enters the Gemini sign and takes place at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers.
The festival will be observed until May 26.
Primarily attended by Vaishnavites from southern India, the festival is believed to purify the soul and grant moksha. Devotees gathered at the site to bathe and offer prayers, with many citing its spiritual link to Maharishi Ved Vyas, who composed the Mahabharata while meditating at Keshav Prayag. It is also believed that South Indian scholars Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya received divine knowledge from Goddess Saraswati at this location.
The influx of pilgrims increased significantly in both Mana and nearby Badrinath. Authorities made detailed arrangements to ensure safety and smooth conduct. Unlike the larger Kumbh Melas in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain, the Pushkar Kumbh in Mana is a more intimate affair, attracting a devoted group of pilgrims, particularly from the South. Mana, located near Badrinath Dham, is also considered the point where the Saraswati river emerges from underground and the path where the Pandavas are believed to have passed on their final journey to heaven.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "Pilgrimage sites are not only centres of our religious faith but also symbols of the country's unity and cultural solidarity. Pilgrims from various places gather at these sites to embody the spirit of 'One India, Great India.' In this context, the Pushkar Kumbh held in Mana village is connecting the North with the South."
Chamoli district
magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said the pedestrian path to Keshav Prayag had been improved for the occasion. "Signboards in various languages have been installed for the convenience of pilgrims. Additionally, police have been deployed along the pedestrian path, and SDRF personnel are stationed at the confluence site," he said. He added that the tehsil administration had been directed to monitor the arrangements regularly to ensure the event proceeds smoothly.