2,500+ Pilgrims Served | VVIP Experiences | Success Amidst Disruptions |
A New Awakening!
“Kumbh me bichadte Milte Hai.”
With this bold cliché-breaker, Thomas Cook launched its spiritual campaign for Maha Kumbh 2025—the planet’s largest-ever gathering, and a living embodiment of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
More than just a massive event, the Kumbh was a divine opportunity to serve.
After 45 days of this grand spiritual spectacle in Teerthraj Prayagraj, as the sacred waters of the Triveni Sangam settle from the convergence of millions, we pause to reflect on our journey. At its heart was not just the visible meeting of the Ganga and Yamuna, but the subtle, sacred presence of the elusive Saraswati—silent, unseen, yet deeply felt.
Much like the Saraswati, devotion flowed invisibly in the bhakti pursuit of millions of pilgrims; felt in the seva-bhav and seva-dharm of the thousands of caretakers including our Team, and mostly profoundly, the invisible river of eternal knowledge, Saraswati, revealed itself through the wisdom of the lacs of sadhus of Akharas and at every satsang.
We were humbled to serve over 2,500 pilgrims—facilitating thoughtfully arranged stays, cultural celebrations, safe road and river transfers, guided dips at the Sangam, and personal darshans at Akharas. Our aim: that every traveler would not just find the river but discover the realized beings who embody its essence. No pilgrim felt lost. Instead, they found deeper connections with their faith, community, the divine, and themselves.
Of course, the scale came with challenges. This 45-day mega-event was akin to hosting almost a pop-up Europe! The temporary nature of accommodations led to mismatches in tent images, last-minute location shifts, fire-related closures, and room shortages.
Record-breaking crowds and unexpected stampedes meant we even arranged bikes—much like ponies in Char Dham—for quicker transfers through bottlenecks. Prices of basics like rickshaws, guides, and cabs soared 4–5x. Yet, in most cases, we shielded our guests from these cost surges.
Despite these disruptions, our team remained grounded in Seva Parmo Dharma.
For the major part we ensured:
- 24/7 on-site assistance across multiple camps
- Guided sacred Snan at ghats, including VIP access
- Cultural evenings, Ganga Aarti, katha pravachans, and devotional performances
- Zero reported safety incidents under our care
- Extended pilgrimages to Kashi and Ayodhya
Yes, some experiences were impacted—but these are but ripples in the vast ocean of your once-in-a-lifetime Teerth Yatra.
Even after the Maha Kumbh has concluded, the river Saraswati continues to flow—invisibly, but forever—within the hearts of those who were touched by her.
Conclusion: Maha Kumbh 2025 was a successful grand spiritual spectacle — India’s Parvenu on the Global Stage. It spanned from January 13th (Makar Sankrant) to February 26th (Maha Shivaratri) 2025, and attracted over 66 crore devotees, surpassing the expected turnout of 40 crores. Key highlights included significant rituals like the Amrit Snan at Triveni Sangam, cultural showcases at Kalagram, a grand drone show depicting the Samudra Manthan, and the International Bird Festival featuring over 200 bird species. Against all odds, amidst a whirlwind of logistical challenges, India pulled off what can only be called a spiritual marathon of epic proportions.
And Thomas Cook pulled off what would not have been possible without its special team that worked around the clock to ensure it was a grand success. A big shout out to:
- The On-ground team: Abhishek Pandey, Jagadish, Swapnil, Hrusikesh Samant, Pratik
- The Back-end team: Jigisha Mhatra, Shloka Sawant, Sheetal Sonawane, Sagar Date
What is next for us?
“It’s like witnessing eternity”, this whisper echoes still.
“I’ve never seen anything like it!” the feeling continues.
This is an inspiration for us.
FOMO has a new meaning. Fortune’s Outstanding Moments and Opportunities.
This generation had it in plenty for Maha Kumbh 2025.
The emotions are yet to settle.
The newfound energy is high.
Like Saraswati, the Maha Kumbh 2025 was an Awakening for us too.
An Awakening for a big step up for Pilgrimages in India and Around – offering devotees Smooth Darshans, Guided Yatras, Special Puja, comfortable Stays & Transfers and Our Spiritual Experience Managers.
It will be overwhelming, spiritual, monumental and lasting!
–Amit Semwal—Deputy GM Products & Contracting, India and Around