New Delhi: The Mahakumbh 2025 is an absolute once-in-a-lifetime experience, said Erik Solheim, former Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, on Wednesday.
Speaking to IANS, he shared his spiritual experience of taking a holy dip in the Ganga at the ongoing Mahakumbh 2025 in Uttar Padesh’s Prayagraj. Solheim took the holy dip at Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna and the mythological Saraswati rivers, on January 31.
“It was an absolute once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Solheim. He called the mega event not only the largest spiritual gathering in the world but also the largest meeting of humans that has ever happened anywhere in the world.
“At no time in history, no other place… America, Europe, China, that 400 million people have come together in a short period of time to venerate gods,” the former Norwegian Minister told IANS.
Solheim said that while the people have gathered at Prayagraj to “take a dip in the Ganga, have a spiritual, emotional, journey,” they are also making new “friendships, and are with families and friends”.
The veteran diplomat called it a “wonderful experience” to witness the “happiness of all these people coming from small towns and villages from all over India”.
Expressing happiness at being able to participate in the mega event, he said that one “will have to wait for another 144 years to witness the next Maha Kumbh”. The Mahakumbh is held every 144 years, Purna Kumbh every 12 years, and Ardh Kumbh every six years.
Earlier, Solheim shared his spiritual connection at the Maha Kumbh on social media platform X.
“Wonderful reflection on Oneness at the Maha Kumbh! The Kumbh in Prayagraj is a great spiritual event with a dip on the Ganga centre stage. It’s a huge festival celebrating life itself. But it is also an arena for reflection,” he said.
Maha Kumbh 2025 is a spiritual event drawing crores of devotees from around the world to take a dip of faith and to ‘wash away their sins’. The Triveni Sangam has seen an average of 1.44 crore pilgrims taking a holy dip daily. The mega event will continue till February 26.
–IANS
