On February 3, we set out from Kochi to the Mahakumbh with excitement and big plans. Packed with all the necessary equipment—drones, gimbals, stabilisers, and clothes to protect us from the freezing cold—the car was loaded with everything we thought we would need for the journey ahead.
However, the road to Prayagraj quickly proved to be a test. After 700km, our car broke down due to a coolant pipe leak. The local mechanic, with a resigned smile, said, “You need to take this to the BMW service centre. Mahakumbh? You’re the seventh car today!” It was then I realised that reaching the Mahakumbh would be no easy feat.
Determined to continue, we received help from friends, a lift, and even managed to find a new car. Even after a collision with a lorry, our resolve grew stronger. "Still wanna go?" my inner self asked, and the answer was clear: "Now more than ever!"
We also realised that no matter how much we planned, fate had its own ideas. Arriving in Prayagraj around 5pm, 8km from the Sangam Ghat, we decided to park the car and find a room. But instead of resting, we set out to explore the area. The streets were massively crowded, and the vehicles were stuck in traffic.
Our first stop was the Boat Club, but crossing the Old Naini Bridge, one of India’s oldest and longest, was a shock when a train passed overhead. After that we headed towards the Sangam Ghat and reached by 11pm, only to see a sea of people!
Prayagraj was not chaotic but rather a flowing river of souls in devotion. Millions moved in harmony, and I was struck by how minuscule we are compared to the vastness of the world. After exploring Sangam Ghat, we realised we wouldn’t be able to make it back for an early morning dip as planned, so we decided to stay.
The cold was biting, and we waited at the Boat Club until 7am, when the boats finally set out. Despite being exhausted and underdressed for the weather, everything changed when we neared the Triveni Sangam. Thousands of Siberian seagulls soared above as boats filled the river. The scene was mesmerising, with the sun rising over the horizon, making it feel like a movie or dream.
The sacred dip, after a long journey, was worth every challenge. Though the water wasn’t freezing, the relentless wind made it feel intense. Yet, as I emerged from the holy waters, surrounded by thousands in prayer, all the hardships of the journey faded away.
Mahakumbh wasn’t just an event—it was an experience of perseverance, spirituality, and the unpredictable beauty of life.
Jayadev K.T., an alumnus of IIM-Kozhikode, is the author of Marketing Karma: The Enlightened Path to Digital Success.