Sanatan Maha Kumbh Begins in Patna Amid Tight Security, Saints and Devotees Flock from Across India

Patna: A spiritual spectacle unfolded at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan on Sunday as the city hosted the first-ever Sanatan Maha Kumbh, drawing saints, devotees and dignitaries from across the country. The grand event, held to mark Parshuram Janmotsav, is being led by former Union Minister Ashwini Choubey, and features religious discourses, Vedic chants and bhajans on a monumental scale.

Spiritual leader Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham and over 500 saints and Peethadheeshwaras from religious centres in Kashi, Haridwar, Ujjain, Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Nashik and South India are in attendance. Jagatguru Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Ji of Visakha Sharda Peeth also arrived in Patna to participate.

The day began at 9am with the recitation of Parshuram Chalisa, which was followed by Hanuman Chalisa later in the day. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan also arrived at the venue around 12pm for formal inauguration of the event. Several high-profile attendees, including Union Ministers and the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, are expected to join the celebrations later in the day.

Over 2,500 security personnel have been deployed to ensure safety, including teams from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Special Task Force (STF), district police, women constables, traffic personnel, magistrates, and intelligence agencies. CCTV cameras and drones are being used for surveillance, while anti-terror and bomb squads remain on standby.

A sprawling pandal with capacity for 50,000 devotees has been erected at Gandhi Maidan. The layout includes VVIP zones, a media centre, medical camps, service counters, and Bhandara areas to provide free meals.

The event marks a rare convergence of religion, politics and cultural identity. Speaking earlier in the week, Ashwini Choubey confirmed Dhirendra Shastri’s participation, noting: “There is no special ‘court’ for him — just dialogue. He will share spiritual messages. Alongside him, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma will also participate.”

Thousands of devotees from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Maharashtra have already arrived to witness the religious gathering.

The Sanatan Maha Kumbh is expected to continue into the evening with havans, pujan, and an extensive saints’ sabha, celebrating the deep-rooted traditions of the Sanatan Dharma.