As we celebrate the sacred, spiritual splendour of Mahakumbh 2025, millions of devotees from far and wide are heading to Prayagraj for Shahi Snan, Darshan, and other rituals. One of the centuries-long traditions is the arrival of Akharas at the Mahakumbh Mela.
While earlier there were 13 Akharas that used to gather at every Kumbh Mela, at the 2019 Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, one women’s Akhara established their own camp and followed the ceremonial rituals under their own flag. Therefore, this year, “a total of 14 Akharas, including Nirmohi Akhara, Nirvani, Digamber Akhara, Mahanirvani Akhara, Atal Akhara, Bada Udaseen Akhara, and Nirmal Akhara, are expected to join the Kumbh Mela in 2025,” as per the official website. In this article, we will tell you about all these Akharas and their importance.
Akharas: Meaning And Significance
The official information page on the website, ‘mahakumbh.in’ states that an Akhara is a location where the Gurus and Shishyas of a Sampradaya perform their practice, along with accommodations for boarding, lodging, and training. “Originally, there were only four Akharas based on the sampradaya (sect), which broke into subsidiary Akharas as the followership grew and the leadership styles varied. The 13 Akharas that were allowed to take part in the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela in January 2019 formed the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad with two people from each Akhara,” reads the website.
The read continues, “This was done so that Akhara-related issues could be handled at all Kumbh melas and across countries. Seven significant Indian Akharas—Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Avahan, Agni, and Anand Akharas—were founded by Adi Shankaracharya.”
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Additionally, it says, “Although the followers (Shishya) of the Akhara receive guru training, the Akhara members do not lead domestic or cosy lives. Some people follow strict Brahmacharya, which means they are celibate, while others may call for giving up everything in the material world.”
“Niranjani Akhara, Juna Akhara, Avahan Akhara, Anand Akhara, Agni Akhara, and Naya Udasin Akhara are the six Akharas that make up the other group. In Prayagraj Kumbh, a female or trans-gender Akhara known as the “Kinnar Akhada” was held, making it an unusual sight to see for pilgrims,” states the website.
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