The Maha Kumbh Mela is often seen as the world’s largest spiritual assembly. This revered Hindu festival commenced on January 13 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, drawing millions of devotees who engage in sacred ceremonies, the most prominent being the holy immersion at the Triveni Sangam – the junction of the three sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. This sacred bath is believed to cleanse the spirit, eliminate sins, and lead one towards spiritual freedom.
As the Maha Kumbh 2025 unfolds, it brings not just a spiritual atmosphere but also a wave of viral moments that capture the excitement of the event. Here are five memorable incidents from the Kumbh Mela that have captivated the online world.
Skydiver unveils the Maha Kumbh flag at 13,000 feet
Anamika Sharma from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, showcased the Mahakumbh flag at an altitude of 13,000 feet over Bangkok. An Instagram video captures Ms. Sharma with the flag just before she boards an aircraft, followed by her leap from the plane while unfurling the flag in mid-air, symbolically inviting everyone to the Mahakumbh 2025.
‘IIT Baba’ at the Maha Kumbh
A prominent figure among the multitude of saints, sages, and spiritual leaders present at the Maha Kumbh is a former aerospace engineer from IIT Bombay, affectionately dubbed ‘IIT Baba.’ Abhey Singh, hailing from Haryana, transitioned from a career in science to a spiritual life, professing devotion to Lord Shiva. His articulate English communication has sparked considerable intrigue during his time at the Kumbh.
Laurene Powell Jobs at the Maha Kumbh
Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, is presently in India for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Under the guidance of her guru, Swami Kailashanand Giri, she has adopted the Hindu name “Kamala.” She engages in spiritual practices including meditation, Kriya Yoga, and Pranayama, reflecting her deep appreciation for Indian spiritual traditions.
Image: ANI
Seer arrives at the Maha Kumbh on a Harley Davidson
As millions flock to Prayagraj for a sacred dip in the Ganga river, one seer made a striking entrance on a motorcycle, riding into the tent city on a Harley Davidson. This surprising arrival has left social media users astonished.
Chai Wale Baba, offering free IAS coaching at the Maha Kumbh
“Chai Wale Baba,” a monk and former tea vendor, has devoted the past 40 years to offering complimentary coaching for civil service aspirants. Known as Dinesh Swaroop Brahmachari, he maintains a vow of silence and survives on a mere ten cups of tea daily, communicating with students through gestures and WhatsApp messages.
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is scheduled from January 13 to February 26 in Prayagraj. This festival not only celebrates India’s rich spiritual legacy but also embodies the perennial human search for inner peace, self-discovery, and collective harmony.
Price: $34.99 - $41.99 (as of Jan 15, 2025 10:48:45 UTC – Details)
Harley-Davidson Crystal Wine Glass Set, HDL-18816. Set of two 20 oz. hand cut crystal wine glasses with frosted Bar & Shield logo. Hand wash only. Set includes two 20 oz. wine glasses Hand cut crystal wine glasses Frosted Bar & Shield logo Hand Wash Only Do not microwave
The Harley-Davidson Museum is a North American museum near downtown, Milwaukee, Wisconsin celebrating the more than 100-year history of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The 130,000-square-foot (12,000 m²) three building complex on 20 acres (81,000 m²) along the Menomonee River bank contains more than 450 Harley-Davidson motorcycles and hundreds of thousands of artifacts from the Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s 110-year history. The museum attracts an estimated 300,000 visitors annually. The museum opened to the public on July 12, 2008, on a 20 acres (81,000 m²) site in the Menomonee Valley. The museum was built in an historically industrial area of Milwaukee. Prior to Harley-Davidson’s purchase of the land from the city, the site was formerly used by the Milwaukee Department of Public Works, Lakeshore Sand Company, and Morton Salt. A 4 feet (1.2 m) layer of imported soil was added to combat the contaminated soil. New vegetation was planted to restore the landscape to its riparian state. In late February 2006, designs for the museum were unveiled. The designs were created by James Biber, a partner at Pentagram, his team, and Michael Zweck-Bonner, an associate at Pentagram. Abbott Miller, a partner at Pentagram, designed the museum’s permanent exhibitions. The firm designed the museum over a period of eight years. On June 1, 2006, Harley-Davidson began the construction of the $75 million complex with a groundbreaking ceremony that included legendary Harley-Davidson dirt track motorcycle racer, Scott Parker, breaking ground by doing a burnout with a Harley-Davidson XL883R Sportster, instead of with the traditional golden shovel. The site includes parking spaces for 1,000 motorcycles and 500 cars. The Museum’s facade also features a 17-foot (5.2 m)-tall, steel Harley-Davidson sign. The museum’s galleries permanent exhibitions, spread throughout two floors, in addition to temporary exhibits and the motor company’s archives. The complex also includes a restaurant, café, retail shop, and special event spaces. Also on display are historic Harley-Davidson items that tell the company’s story and history, such as photographs, posters, advertisements, clothes, trophies, video footage of vintage and contemporary motorcycling, and interactive exhibits, including 10 motorcycles that visitors can sit on.
The Motorcycle Gallery
On the museum’s upper level, a procession of motorcycles is displayed down the center of the main hall, running the length of the building, with galleries on either side.
The Harley-Davidson Journey
Along the east side of the upstairs galleries, a series of interconnected galleries exhibit the Harley-Davidson’s chronological history. The galleries relate the company’s history from its origins in a 10×15-foot wooden shack to its current status as the top U.S. motorcycle manufacturer, producing more than 330,000 bikes each year. The centerpiece of the gallery is "Serial Number One", the oldest known Harley-Davidson in existence, which is encased in glass. The glass enclosure sits within a floor-embedded, illuminated outline of the backyard shed the motor company was founded in.
The Engine Room
The museum’s second floor galleries begin with the Engine Room. A Knucklehead engine is displayed disassembled into several pieces. The Engine Room also features several interactive touch screen elements that show how Harley motors, including Panhead and Shovelhead motors work.
Clubs and Competition
The Clubs and Competition gallery includes displays and information about Harley-Davidson’s racing history. The gallery includes a section of a replica wooden board track, suspended in the air at a 45-degree incline. The wooden track features vintage video footage of actual board track races, and attached 1920s-era Harley-Davidson racing motorcycles; the bikes that raced on board tracks at 100 miles -per-hour. Fatalities were common, which led to the banning of wooden board tracks for motorcycle racing.
Tank Gallery
The museum’s upper floor exhibits also include the Gas Tank Gallery, formerly part of the Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary Open Road Tour. The exhibit displays 100 of Harley-Davidson’s most memorable tank graphics, spanning 70 years, selected by the company’s styling department and reproduced on "Fat Bob" tanks.
Custom Culture
The Custom Culture gallery covers Harley-Davidson’s impact on American and global culture. The centerpiece of the Custom Culture Gallery is "King Kong", a 13-foot (4.0 m)-long, two-engine Harley-Davidson motorcycle customized by Felix Predko. The exhibit also features exact replicas of the customized Harley-Davidson bikes ridden by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in the 1969 American movie, "Easy Rider", including Fonda’s "Captain America" chopper and Hopper’s "Billy Bike". Two of each of the two choppers were created, and one "Captain America" was destroyed in the film’s production.
