Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: Preparations are underway for the upcoming Khandagiri Kumbha Mela, scheduled to commence on January 23, 2026, and continue until February 1. The event will see the participation of more than a thousand sadhus and saints from across India. A special souvenir will also be released to mark the occasion.

Addressing a press conference at the Paduka Ashram in Khandagiri, Baba Panchadev, President of the World Sanatan Vedic Dharma Parishad and convenor of the Kumbha Mela, said that this year’s festival is especially significant as Magha Purnima coincides with the auspicious Ravi-Pushya Yoga. As part of the rituals, the traditional five Maha Yajnas will be performed.

Baba Panchadev emphasized that the participating sadhus and saints will not promote any superstitious or unscientific practices, including witchcraft, sorcery, exorcism, or other harmful customs. The event will also celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the World Sanatan Vedic Dharma Parishad and the completion of 5,126 years of Kaliyuga.

A total of 144 sadhus, saints, and distinguished personalities will be felicitated during the Mela. Traders from various regions will set up stalls, and arrangements are being made for temporary huts to accommodate visiting ascetics.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and the Odisha Department of Culture have undertaken the responsibility of organizing Kumbha Mela–2025.