The Mahakumbh at Triveni Sangam continues to witness an unprecedented influx of devotees, with over 40 crore pilgrims having taken the holy dip in the sacred confluence of Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, and the invisible Maa Saraswati, as of first week of February 2025.
The massive turnout reflects the deep-rooted faith of saints, Kalpvasis, householders, and devotees from across Bharat and the world. By 4pm on February 7, 78.78 lakh pilgrims bathed in the holy waters, pushing the total number beyond 40 crore. With around two weeks still remaining in the grand spiritual event, the number of pilgrims is expected to surpass 50 crore.
During this momentous occasion, anti Hindu minded Islamists have used several tactics to incite Hindu sentiments by trying to malign and desecrate the sacred event. In one video which went viral in social media recently, an Islamist was found offering Namaz out in the open which seemed like an attempt of testing tolerance of Hindus. In such a sacred site of Hindus, allowing prayers to intolerant cult-Gods is indeed a test of patience of Hindus.
This is not a single such incident, but follows a trend of similar attempts by Islamists to hurt Hindu sentiments. This article recollects such attempts right from the beginning of Mahakumbh 2025.
Muslims react with ‘Haha emojis’ over stampede-like situation at Mahakumbh Mela
On 29 January 2025, amid media reports of a stampede-like situation at Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, some Muslims were found celebrating the tragic incident on social media.
Several Hindu pilgrims, who were en route to the Sangam Ghat for the ‘Amrit Snan’ on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, were injured during the stampede-like situation. When the news story about the disturbing incident was shared on Facebook, the usual suspects began reacting with ‘Haha emojis’.
Ayub enters camp of Yati Narsinghanand in Mahakumbh using Hindu name
On 14 January 2025, the police arrested a suspicious young man named Ayub from outside the camp of Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara and Mahant of Dasna temple Yati Narsinghanand Giri in Mahakumbh. It was claimed that he had entered inside using the name Ayush. The police is interrogating him.
On Tuesday morning, the saints of the Akhara caught the young man outside Yati Narsinghanand Giri’s room on the basis of suspicion. First he said that he had come to meet Yati. He told his name as Ayush. When they got suspicious, they informed the police. When the police interrogated him strictly, his real name turned out to be Ayub.
During police interrogation, the arrested youth confessed that his name is Ayub Ali. Reportedly, he is a resident of Aliganj in Etah. He said he did not know that there is no permission to come there and nobody had sent him, and that he had come alone. His father’s name is Shakir Ali.
Talking to the media, Yati Narsinghanand said, “A conspiracy is being hatched to murder me. A few months ago, a crowd of 10 thousand Muslims attacked my temple outside Dasna temple in Ghaziabad. I am being continuously monitored. Zuber, who lives in Bangalore, has threatened me earlier as well, who got the temple attacked. I am in the greatest danger in Mahakumbh, I can be murdered at any time.”
Waqf board claims land in Mahakumbh site
Ahead of the Kumbh Mela, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamat, claimed that 55 bighas of Waqf land are being utilized for the event, sparking outrage and sharp criticism from Hindu leaders and the public alike.
According to Barelvi, the land in question belongs to the Waqf Board and was generously made available by local Muslims to facilitate the Mahakumbh. He described the gesture as an act of “large-heartedness” and urged Hindus to reciprocate by allowing Muslims to participate in the religious gathering.
However, the cleric’s assertions have been met with skepticism and resistance. Swami Chakrapani Maharaj, president of the Hindu Mahasabha, accused Barelvi of attempting to disrupt the event under a “malicious agenda” and called for an investigation into his motives. Chakrapani went as far as alleging a connection to foreign interests, demanding legal action against Barelvi for “spoiling the country’s atmosphere.”
BJP leader Vijay Bahadur Pathak refuted the cleric’s claims, pointing out that the Maha Kumbh has been celebrated at the Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati—since time immemorial. “The Kumbh’s origins date back to Vedic times and the Puranic legend of the Samudra Manthan. To suggest that the land is Waqf property is both absurd and historically inaccurate,” he said.
Pathak further highlighted that over 800 hectares of land were reclaimed from the Ganga to accommodate the event, which spans approximately 4,000 hectares. He criticized Barelvi’s claim as an attempt to rewrite history and undermine the cultural significance of the Maha Kumbh.
The controversy escalated with Barelvi’s criticism of the All India Akhara Parishad’s earlier call to bar non-Hindus from the event. The Akhara Parishad, Naga Sadhus, and other Hindu religious leaders have expressed concerns over the participation of Muslims, citing past incidents of communal tensions. While this has drawn criticism from some quarters, many see it as a protective measure to maintain the sanctity of the Hindu religious gathering.
These instances show the multi-level tactics being employed by Islamists to deviate Hindus from the spiritual event into communal fighting and violence. Hindus need to understand the game being played and think for the protection and strengthening of Arya Hindu Vaidika Sanatana Dharma from the long-term perspective. Such tactics need to be curbed at their bud and should not be allowed to take center stage.
