There is a highly circulated Bengali dialogue of Swami Vivekananda which says, "Geetapath opekshya football khelile tomra swarger aro nikotoborti hoibe." This means if someone plays football more, he/she will be closer to heaven, more than anyone. Even though the context was different, a present-day partnership of enlightenment and sport has been reflected in the alleys of Maha Kumbh, where sadhus, aka saints, were spotted playing cricket and not football. Notably, Swamiji himself played cricket in his early days for the Calcutta Town Club, and with time, the British-born sport has been a heartthrob for the Indians. The Maha Kumbh at Uttar Pradesh's Prayag Raj, which has been a hotspot for all religious activities, has also been a promoter for the sport as well. A video that has recently been circulated on social media, shows babas, aka sadhus, playing gully cricket. Slabs are balanced on each other resembling the stumps, with one sadhu batting and another one wicketkeeping. The crowd nearby was cheering for them. A commoner was seen bowling while another saint was spotted holding a bat, waiting for his turn. Watch the video here: महाकुंभ में बाबा लोग फुर्सत में क्रिकेट खेलते हुए pic.twitter.com/MCHKHFn0h9 — 🇮🇳Jitendra pratap singh🇮🇳 (@jpsin1) February 5, 2025 Read also: Ponting reveals desire to bring three Indians into PBKS squad Maha Kumbh Celebrates Spirituality, Culture The Maha Kumbh, ongoing in Prayagraj since January 13, continues to attract millions of devotees. Recognized as the world's largest religious gathering, it holds immense spiritual value, with pilgrims bathing at the Triveni Sangam to cleanse their sins. The event will continue until February 26. This year’s Kumbh is not only about rituals but also celebrates India’s cultural heritage. From February 7, a series of cultural performances will take place at the Ganga Pandal. The lineup includes renowned artists such as Odissi dancer Dona Ganguly (Feb 7), playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy (Feb 8), classical dancers Sonal Mansingh, and singer Suresh Wadkar (Feb 9), and singer Hariharan (Feb 10). Alongside these, February 7 will feature additional acts, including Sufi singers Yogesh and Abha Gandharv, classical musician Suma Sudhindra, and Dr. Devkinandan Sharma presenting a Rasleela act.