New Delhi: Former Norwegian Minister Dr Erik Solheim, speaking today at the NXT Conclave at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, called the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2025 historic in nature, noting that no such massive gathering had been reported anywhere in the world. He said it reflects the deep belief of the people in Hindu Dharma.
“It (Maha Kumbh Mela) was historical. Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Maha Kumbh. Every other religion and ideology can learn from Hindu Dharma,” he stated. Dr Solheim, former Norwegian Minister for Climate and Environment, visited the Maha Kumbh in mid-February. He described the event as unparalleled and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, praising the scale and significance of the gathering.
He further called the Maha Kumbh not only the largest spiritual event in the world but also the biggest human congregation in history.
The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela was a Hindu pilgrimage festival held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, from January 13 to February 26, 2025. It was the world›s largest gathering of people. The Maha Kumbh Mela is a religious festival that takes place every 12 years and rotates between four sacred cities in India: Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj. The 2025 festival was unique due to a rare constellation alignment occurring once every 144 years. The event was held at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj and lasted for 45 days. More than 660 million people took a dip in the river during the festival.
Dr Solheim also emphasised that the time had come to bring the philosophy of Hindu Dharma to the world, as it advocates the philosophy of tolerance.
“In Hindu religion, they worship Lord Ganesha, who is half-animal, half-human. It symbolises respect for nature and mankind together,” he explained.
Discussing ways to boost the economy and fuel the nation’s growth, Dr Solheim said, “We need to combine economy and ecology. If we unite, we succeed. If we separate, we will fail.”
He also mentioned his recent visit to Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the state›s rich natural resources.
Modi stated that Madhya Pradesh is Bharat’s fifth-largest state in terms of population. It is a leading state in agriculture and ranks among the top five states in mineral resources. MP is blessed by the life-giving Maa Narmada and has the potential to become one of the top five states in the country by GDP.
Madhya Pradesh is set to establish an 800 MW solar park to meet the energy needs of both MP and Uttar Pradesh by alternating supply between the two states every six months. The solar park will consist of four units of 200 MW each, with power procurement jointly managed by the MP Power Management Company and the UP Power Corporation Limited.
Dr Solheim emphasised that combining economy and ecology, including environmental considerations, is key to the nation’s growth. India is the world›s third-largest renewable energy producer, with 46.3% of its energy capacity installed as of October 2024 (203.18 GW out of 452.69 GW) coming from renewable sources.