The banks of the River Bharathapuzha are currently bathed in the glow of thousands of diyas and the steady hum of Vedic chants, marking a historic return for Kerala’s spiritual landscape. For the first time in over 250 years, the state is hosting its own version of the Kumbh Mela— the Maha Magha Mahotsavam. This 18-day festival, which began on January 18, has transformed the riverfront of the "Dakshin Ganga" into a sea of saffron, drawing tens of thousands of devotees and sadhus to its ghats.
Although this is a huge religious endeavour, the revival of the event has political overtones. Taking place just a few months before the assembly elections in Kerala, the event has been seen as a "soft Hindutva" strategy by the CPI(M)-led Left Front government to strengthen its position against the Congress-led UDF. Interestingly, the visionary behind this congregation is Swami Anandavan Bharati Maharaj. Once a leader in the CPI(M)’s student wing, he is now a senior monk of the Juna Akhada and was appointed as its chief for South India during the Prayagraj Kumbh. The event’s high-profile backing includes Mata Amritanandamayi and Kerala Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan as chief patrons, signalling a rare bridge between the state's political and spiritual leadership.
The festival finds its home at the historic Mamankam grounds in Thirunavaya. Historically, this site hosted a grand medieval festival every 12 years, showcasing Kerala’s martial prowess and political history until the tradition was suppressed during the British takeover of Malabar. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who inaugurated the event, emphasised that reviving this piece of Sanatana Dharma should be seen as a cultural celebration rather than an act against any other faith.
A primary highlight for the crowds is the evening "Nila Aarti." In a direct nod to the traditions of the North, priests from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi travel here to perform a ritual modelled after the iconic Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
The event has required a massive logistical exercise by the state. The security is beefed up, with 300 police personnel and bomb squads, while the KSRTC and Indian Railways have also launched special services, including direct trains from Varanasi and Rishikesh.
A recent controversy arose when the revenue department temporarily stopped the construction of a temporary bridge for the festival, sparking accusations from Bharatiya Janata Party leaders such as Kummanam Rajasekharan that the state government was trying to deliberately thwart the event. However, with the upcoming elections likely to focus their attention, the state government has quickly cleared the administrative obstacles to ensure that the "Kumbh of the South" is not further delayed.
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