'Once in a Lifetime Experience': Former Norwegian Minister Takes Dip At Prayagraj's Maha Kumbh
Erik Solheim said the mega event was not only the largest spiritual gathering in the world but also the largest meeting of humans that has ever happened anywhere in the world.
Former Norwegian Minister for Climate and Environment, Erik Solheim, on Monday took a dip at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and called it a “once in a lifetime” opportunity.
Solheim said he was deeply moved and was able to connect to India's rich history, spirituality and nature.
Mahakumbh - my dip in the Ganga.
— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) February 16, 2025
Linking up to thousands of years of Indian history, to the Gods and to nature. A once in my life time experience. Wonderful! pic.twitter.com/DarVJkUqWX
He spoke about the scale of the event, he said that it was the largest gathering of people in the world.
“People do this because they want to connect soul and body and maybe cleanse the mind. Also wash our sins away.”
According to IANS, “At no time in history, no other place... America, Europe, China, that 400 million people have come together in a short period of time, to venerate gods,” the former Norwegian minister.
Expressing happiness for being able to participate at the mega event, he said that, one "will have to wait for another 144 years to witness the next MahaKumbh". The Mahakumbh is held every 144 years, Purna Kumbh every 12 years, and Ardh Kumbh every six years.
Earlier, Solheim had also shared his spiritual connect at the MahaKumbh on social media platform X.
“Wonderful reflection on Oneness at the Mahakumbh! The Kumbh in Prayagraj is a great spiritual event with the dip in the Ganga center stage. It's a huge festival celebrating life itself. But it is also an arena for reflection,” he said.
Solheim said that while the people have gathered at Prayagraj to “take a dip in the Ganga, have a spiritual, emotional, journey," they are also making new "friendships, and are with families and friends”. He called it a “wonderful experience" to witness the “happiness of all these people coming from small towns and villages from all over India”.
Mahakumbh 2025 is a spiritual event drawing crores of devotees from around the world to take a dip of faith and to ‘wash away their sins’. The Triveni Sangam has seen an average of 1.44 crore pilgrims taking a holy dip daily.
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