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Dalai Lama sends message of unity and peace to millions at Maha Kumbh Mela

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His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche delivering His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s message at Prayagraj during Maha Kumb mela (Photo/Ling Rinpoche Facebook )

By  —  Tsering Dhundup

The Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, has sent a message of peace and global unity to the gathering at Hindu religious festival of Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on January 25.

“We human beings depend on each other and must live together on this one planet that is our only home,” stated the octogenarian leader in his message, which was delivered to the gathering by His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Ling Rinpoche. His message highlighted the shared foundations of religious traditions, noting that they all emphasise “cultivating love and compassion in our daily lives.”

The nobel peace laureate, who has attended the Kumbh Mela in 2010 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and 2015 in Nashik, Maharashtra, spoke of the festival’s potential to influence global change. He expressed hope that the gathering of spiritual practitioners at Prayagraj would “send a positive message, not just to the people of India, but to the world at large, of the need to seek solutions founded on peace and warm-heartedness.”

In addressing current global challenges, the spiritual leader emphasised the importance of recognising human commonality. “We need to appreciate the oneness of humanity,” he stated, “a recognition that we are all the same—we all want to lead a happy life free from suffering.”

The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious assembly, began on January 13 and continues until February 26, drawing millions to the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. The festival takes place based on the alignment of the sun, moon, and Jupiter—a cycle that spans 12 years.

The previous Maha Kumbh Mela in 2013 drew 120 million attendees to Prayagraj, according to government records. Between major celebrations, smaller versions of the festival (Kumbh Mela) rotate among three other locations—Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain—on a three-year cycle.