As millions flock to the Maha Kumbh 2025, the residents of Prayagraj find themselves grappling with the influx of relatives suddenly eager to reconnect-some after years of silence. While hosting family for the spiritual event is considered a blessing, the strain on personal spaces, relationships, and resources is beginning to show.
Kusum Srinet, a resident of Telliarganj, has been at the center of this chaotic hospitality. “We are hosting 15 people in our two-bedroom house,” she said with a weary smile. “The kitchen has not had a break in days, and I have been answering questions like, ‘Is there hot water?’ and ‘Do you have room for my cousin’s neighbor’s friend?’ I have stopped saying no because it does not work.”
In addition to managing the logistics of hosting, Kusum is also dealing with a sudden surge in phone calls from long-lost relatives. “I got a call from my aunt in Gorakhpur whom I have not spoken to in a decade,” she said. “She wanted to know if I could ‘arrange something’ for her son and his in-laws. I did not even know her son was married!”
The phenomenon is not limited to Kusum. Alpona Sen, originally from Kolkata but now a resident of Daraganj, said she is suddenly popular with relatives who never cared to stay in touch.
“People who forgot I existed are now calling,” she quipped. “One cousin rang up from Kolkata and started with, ‘Didi, how is your health?’-as if they were planning to visit me in the hospital! But of course, they just wanted to know if I could host their son-in-law’s family.”
She shared a humorous yet exasperating incident. “My relatives initially said they were ready to move to a hotel,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But then they added, ‘When we have a great sister-in-law like you, why should we stay there?’ Now, I am stuck hosting a mini-family reunion in my house!”
Even the humor does not fully mask the challenges. Rajendra Tiwari, a retired schoolteacher in Allapur, said, “I have relatives showing up with bags and a plan to ‘stay for a few days.’ A few days have now turned into a week, and they are making full use of the free Wi-Fi.
One even asked me if we had Netflix!”
For some, the stay is brief and pleasant. “There are considerate relatives who come, stay for a day, and leave,” said Anita Mishra. “They take their holy dip, share a meal, and are off. I do not even get stressed with them.”
But others are not so easy. “Then there are the ones who arrived a day before Mauni Amavasya,” said Rajendra Tiwari of Allapur, “and they will only leave after taking their last dip on Basant Panchami. That’s more than a week! We are running out of beds, food, and patience.”
Amidst the chaos, residents are also finding ways to keep the mood light. Renuka Sharma from Govindpuri shared, “I told my sister-in-law, who has not spoken to me since her son’s wedding, ‘Why don’t you just shift here permanently since you have already taken over my bedroom?’ We both laughed, but I think she’s considering it.”
For now, Prayagraj residents like Kusum and Alpona are navigating a mix of familial bonding and unexpected stress, all while keeping their sense of humor intact. As Kusum put it, “At least the Kumbh is teaching us one thing: how to handle chaos with a smile.”