Mahakumbh Nagar, January 14: This year, Mahakumbh 2025 is not just ‘bhavya’ (grand) and ‘divya’ (divine), but also ‘navya’ (new), as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has, for the first time, broken away from Mughal-era traditions by renaming several key rituals, including the ‘Shahi Snan,’ aligning them with ‘Sanatan’ values.

This significant step has garnered widespread appreciation across the Mahakumbh, with both saints and devotees applauding the Chief Minister’s initiative. Many have described him as the ‘flag bearer of Sanatan culture.’

After performing the ‘Amrit Snan’ on Makar Sankranti, Mahant Swami Dilip Das Tyagi Ji Maharaj of Shri Ram Vaidehi Temple, Ayodhya, praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for reviving India’s cultural heritage. He remarked, “Mahakumbh 2025 has given a renewed identity to Sanatan culture by discarding terms rooted in colonial influence. This year’s divine and grand experience of ‘Amrit Snan’ is truly historic.”

He further emphasized that replacing terms like ‘Shahi Snan’ and ‘Peshwai’ with ‘Amrit Snan’ and ‘Chhawni Pravesh’ is a powerful step toward strengthening Sanatan values. The Mahakumbh, with these changes, is now presenting the richness of Indian culture and traditions on a global platform.

Mahakumbh 2025 has brought significant cultural and traditional transformations, further enhanced by the rare alignment of ‘Pushya Nakshatra’ after 144 years, making the event even more extraordinary. Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad President Mahant Ravindra Puri highlighted that for the first time, Urdu words have been replaced with Hindi and ‘Sanatani’ terms in the Mahakumbh.

He stated, "A proposal was presented to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who readily accepted it. Now, terms like ‘Shahi Snan’ and ‘Peshwai’ have been replaced with ‘Amrit Snan’ and ‘Chhawani Pravesh,’ marking a significant shift in cultural representation."

Mahakumbh 2025 will feature six major ‘Snan Parv,’ including three ‘Amrit Snans.’ During these sacred bathing festivals, crores of devotees will gather at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers to take a holy dip. The holy dip is revered as a profound symbol of liberation from sins and spiritual purification, further enriching the spiritual essence of the event.