Mahamagham Mahotsav 2026 (January 18 – February 3, 2026), widely described as the “Kumbh Mela of Kerala” concluded recently on the sacred banks of the river Nila (Bharathapuzha), reaffirming Thirunavaya’s ancient stature as a Maha-tirtha and the revered “Gaya of the South.”
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Mohanji with Mahamandaleswar Swami Anandavanam Bharathi Maharaj and the team of priests who conducted the sacred Nila Aarti throughout the Mahamagham Mahotsav 2026
Organised under the leadership of Mahamandaleswar Swami Anandavanam Bharathi Maharaj of Sri Juna Akhada, the 17-day congregation marked an extraordinary revival of a tradition at a grand scale, after over 270 years. According to organisers, more than two million devotees took part across the festival period, with peak-day footfall rising into the lakhs!
Mohanji Foundation’s Nila Aarti: Bringing the living lineage of Kashi to Kerala
A central spiritual highlight of Mahamagham Mahotsav 2026 was the daily Nila Aarti (Nila Aarathi), organised by Mohanji Foundation under the guidance and blessings of Brahmarishi Dr. Mohanji. From January 19 to February 3, the riverbank transformed each evening into a vibrant field of devotion as thousands gathered to witness the sacred Aarti Seva.
Mohanji Foundation arranged to bring an expert team of pandits from Varanasi to Thirunavayya, bringing the recognizable sanctity and discipline of the Kashi tradition into Kerala’s spiritual landscape, and symbolising a powerful unification of North and South Indian lineages through shared worship.
Ammucare’s Annadaan: Compassion at scale, every day
Alongside the spiritual programs, Ammucare (Ammucare Charitable Trust) – a platform founded by Mohanji and dedicated to supporting the needy, led Anna Prasada Samarpanam, providing nutritious meals to pilgrims, sadhus, volunteers, and visitors through a continuously operating Annakshetra (free food service) during the festival. Devotees partook of breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the kitchen and facilities running for almost 24hours everyday, throughout the festival.
In the final phase of the gathering, meal service scaled dramatically, with Ammucare reporting almost 50,000 pilgrims served in a single day, reflecting the true Kumbh spirit of inclusiveness and selfless service.
Mohanji personally joined volunteers in serving pilgrims, offering a lived example of “shared joy of serving,” and reinforcing the Mahotsav’s message that spirituality is not separate from compassion in action.
A historic congregation and a living renaissance
Throughout the Mahotsav, pilgrims, saints, and sadhus from across India and abroad participated in holy dips, rituals, ancestral rites, cultural programmes, and spiritual discourses. An ancient tradition was revived on a historic scale after over 270 years, marking the start of a new era for the tradition in this part of Bharat.
Sharing his reflections on this grand event, Brahmarishi Mohanji said, “The Mahamagham festival at Thirunavaya was a grand cultural and historic revival. A great union of various traditions. A cultural revival is the rejuvenation of a nation.
Mohanji Foundation brought the living Aarti tradition from Varanasi to Thirunavaya, adding a special character to this festival. Likewise, Ammucare’s daily anna prasadam seva fed thousands, but touched the hearts of everyone at the festival.
We were privileged to support this historic gathering and participate in this rejuvenation of ancient traditions.”
The closing ceremony was joined by eminent saints, with sadhus being honoured and thanked for their esteemed presence, and with organisers expressing strong intent to continue building this sacred convergence in the years ahead.
For more information, please visit mohanji.org and ammucare.org
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