"Maha Kumbh Mela 2025" by Udhari Arundhati of BA HEP First Year 

Picture Credit: Udhari Arundhati 

After 144 years, the grand Maha Kumbh Mela returned, and I was fortunate to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event. Held in Nashik, Ujjain, Prayagraj, and Haridwar, this spiritual gathering is considered the largest human congregation on Earth. As I arrived in Prayagraj, I felt an indescribable energy in the air—millions of devotees, saints, and seekers had come together, united by faith and devotion.

The story behind Kumbh Mela has always fascinated me. It is believed that during the great churning of the ocean, drops of Amrit (nectar of immortality) fell at these four locations. Bathing in the sacred rivers at these places is said to cleanse sins and lead to Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). Knowing this, stepping into the waters of the Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers merge, felt like a moment of profound transformation.

Picture Credit: Udhari Arundhati 

A Divine Journey

As I walked through the festival grounds, the sights, sounds, and scents overwhelmed my senses. The rhythmic chants, the fragrance of incense, and the mesmerizing aartis by the river made it feel like I had stepped into an ancient, mystical world.

Taking a holy dip in the sacred waters was an experience beyond words. It was not just about purifying the body—it felt like washing away worries, negativity, and attachments. I emerged feeling lighter, at peace, and deeply connected to something greater than myself.

The Mela was also a hub of spiritual learning. I met saints, sadhus, and gurus who shared timeless wisdom. Listening to their teachings, observing their simple and disciplined lives, and engaging in prayer filled my heart with serenity and purpose.

Unity in Diversity

One of the most beautiful aspects of Maha Kumbh Mela was the sheer diversity of people attending. There were no barriers of caste, wealth, or status—only faith and devotion. Millions gathered in harmony, proving that spirituality unites people beyond worldly differences.

The festival served as a reminder of the richness of Indian culture and traditions. It strengthened my connection with my roots inspired me to embrace a more righteous and mindful way of living.

The Grand Celebrations

The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 officially began on 14th January 2025 (Makar Sankranti) and concluded on 26th February 2025 (Maha Shivratri). Each day was filled with divine energy—mass prayers, enlightening discourses, and grand rituals that left a lasting impression on my soul.

A Journey to Moksha

It is said that bathing in the sacred waters during Maha Kumbh Mela grants Moksha, freedom from the cycle of life and death. While the mysteries of the universe remain unknown, I can say with certainty that this journey changed me.

I returned from Kumbh Mela feeling lighter, calmer, and spiritually enriched. This was not just a festival; it was a pilgrimage, a journey to the soul, a chance to touch the divine. And though another 144 years will pass before the next Maha Kumbh, I know that this experience will stay with me forever.

From now on, I am forever in love with my country. I take great pride in my country, its traditions, customs, and festivals, with unwavering faith in unity in diversity.

"Unfair Shades : Subjective choice or Blatant discrimination?" By Praharshita of B.Sc MBTC First Year 

Picture Credit: Praharshita 

What it would be like if I was a little teen girl whose dark-toned, black skin or whatever name they give, in a world of discriminators, light-toned lovers. A place where from local barbershop to shining city's billboard to hospital banners, the only one I see is light-toned to the extent of another race.

Will I ever see someone like me more often? To feel like I belong, must I always feel inferior or excluded? In a world influenced by idiocracy, filled with passive aggressions and holding blatant prejudice—unaware yet completely aware—what it is like to be treated special?

Can I ever be? No—not at least like the white-skinned, long-haired girl in class liked by every guy, admired by girls, and appreciated by teachers just for her mere existence, for doing the bare minimum. Not at least like the random girl at a relative's wedding praised by aunts, romanticizing her personality—even if it was their first meeting—saying there's something magical of having lighter meat covering the body.

Not at least like their favorite news reporter. I am not allowed to be special like the ones I see in TV ads or the main characters on the big screen with someone dark always shown inferior to them—as if being light-toned is the default mode to be the good one.

It makes me feel like a side character in my own life, just like the actress who receives hate for doing no wrong but committing the 'sin' of being dark. If my peers are just kids without full emotional awareness, then what about adults? Why are they worse? Why don't they stop? Do they have even an ounce of sympathy or emotional intelligence?

Maybe they do when my parents worry about my marriage and set aside more money for my dowry. Or maybe it's when people sympathize, saying, 'You should've been lighter and your brother dark, as it's less bad for a male to be dark, God was unfair to swap it.'

God is unfair? As if He spoke to them personally about white being superior. No, it's not God who's unfair. It's you. It's the society, the messed-up world still clinging on internalized oppression.

What court should I go for my unpaid emotional labor?"

"Uninvited Tears" by Bhumika Raikote of BA MLHJ Final Year 

Picture Credit: Special Arrangement 

Why are you coming,

I didn't invite you,

How could you forget?

I asked you to be inside.

I know little things hurt,

You shout and scream to be free,

But this is not the right time,

Nor the right place.

Come out, But not now,

In the nights,

When I'm all alone,

When there is no one around.

Don't fall now,

My dear tears, 

Don't make me feel weak,

When everyone's around.

Where am I ? - By Lakshmi Prasanna of B.Com First Year 

Picture Credit: Special Arrangement 

They asked me where I was,

But I couldn’t answer,

Lost in admiring the bright sunrays,

Dancing on a maple leaf.

I felt lost, unsure of my way,

Until the yellow flowers on the footpath guided me, 

Taking my pain away.

They say new beginnings come at the right time,

Yet I felt like an abandoned building, 

Beside the flower shop,

Frozen in the tracks of my past,

Unable to embrace change, 

Even, bouquets were carried away,

To mark new starts in others' lives.

Real life often slips by unnoticed,

As we spend our energy, trying to breathe.

The pigeons above, watch us,

Wondering how foolish we are,

Not to glance at the sky even once.

I realized then how life grows and moves relentlessly,

Like tree vines climbing glass buildings,

Ignoring the complexities it tangles itself with.

In front of me stood a white castle, rich with history,

While I stood there, heavy with misery.

At the traffic lights,

A small girl smiled, unknowingly,

And for a fleeting moment, 

I longed to return willingly,

To the innocence of childhood.

"Your Feelings" - By Lakshmi Prasanna of B.Com First Year 

Picture Credit: Special Arrangement 

Please don't hide your feelings, 

Like the sun behind branches,

Or the moon behind streetlights.

I know the warmth of your love,

As pure as the color of a dove.

I know the sweetness of your smile,

Sparking fireworks in my heart like a missile.

I know the real you, 

Behind the mask of existing,

The one who dreams of living.

I know the true you,

Who secretly wishes to stargaze at night,

Unlike the one who tries to reach,

The stars with foresight.

Please don't let your inner child fade away;

She deserves to be here, not too far away.

I know you're not like those snowflakes,

That melt before the sun arises.

You’re like auroras,

Rare, yet showing their true colors.

Please be you, and I'll be there for you,

Don't forget yourself,

Before knowing the value of your true self.

You might be like a peony in a field of roses,

Similar and unnoticed,

But unique and remarkable.

You feel like you don't belong anywhere,

Until you realize you belong nowhere,

Because you are where you should be, 

Not where you need to be.

Don't abandon yourself in the blueming,

By comparing yourself to others' blooming.

"My Mother" - by Safiyyah of BA Second Year 

Picture Credit: Special Arrangement 

Your voice is what starts my day,

And it's your face that drives the blues away.

Your presence gives me the courage to live,

You're the one who shares in my joys and sorrows.

Who else is mine but you?

You're my friend, my mother, and everything true.

I love you, Ammi.

"A Heart With Fur" - by Muskan Begum of B.Sc FSZC Second Year 

Picture Credit: Special Arrangement 

In shadows deep, my sorrow grew,
A loss so heavy, a wound so new.
I hid my tears, my heart confined,
For theirs was a grief I dared not bind.

Then one day, soft as a dream,
She came to me, a gentle beam.
Brown, grey, and white—a patchwork of light,
Chasing away my endless night.

Her tiny paws, her playful stride,
Followed me close, stayed by my side.
She spoke no words, yet heard my soul,
A furry friend who made me whole.

She sleeps with me, her purrs divine,
Her quiet love a lifeline mine.
Her trust, her joy, her boundless glee,
Became the heart that beats in me.

Through her, I found a spark anew,
A piece of love so pure, so true.
My little angel, my healing art,
My cat, my life, my very heart.