State PCS - Uttarakhand (UKPSC)

• 17 May 2025

Pushkar Kumbh 2025

Why in News 

The Pushkar Kumbh has commenced at Keshav Prayag in Mana village (Chamoli district) after 12 years, attracting large numbers of pilgrims. 

Key Points 

• About Pushkar Kumbh: 
  • Held at Keshav Prayag, the confluence of the Alaknanda and Saraswati rivers in Mana village, Uttarakhand’s last village on the Indo-China border. 
  • The Pushkar Kumbh, observed when Jupiter enters Gemini, is a significant event in Hindu tradition, attracting Vaishnavite devotees, particularly from southern India. 
    • As per Hindu religious beliefs, Maharishi Ved Vyas composed the epic Mahabharata while meditating at Keshav Prayag.  
    • It is also believed that Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya received divine wisdom from Goddess Saraswati at this sacred site. 
• Significance: 
  • The Pushkar Kumbh in Mana, though smaller than the traditional Kumbh Melas in cities like Prayagraj and Haridwar, creates a meaningful spiritual and cultural connection between northern and southern India.  
  • It highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage while also deepening the nation’s spiritual unity.