Stop memo directing halt to bridge construction at ‘Kumbh Mela’ site triggers row in Kerala

Ahead of the ‘Kumbh Mela’ in Kerala’s Malappuram scheduled to start next week on the banks of the Bharathapuzha river, a Thirunavaya village officer has issued a stop memo to the construction works on the Bharathapuzha river triggering a controversy. However, despite the stop memo, the organisers asserted that the event will go ahead as scheduled.

The Revenue Department issued orders halting the construction work on Tuesday when the organisers started building a temporary bridge across the Bharathapuzha river. According to the memo, no permission had been obtained for construction activities.

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The notice specifies that encroaching upon the river to construct a bridge without permission, levelling land, and carrying out construction works are violation of the Kerala River Conservation Act 2001.

The first Kumbh Mela-style festival in Kerala is slated to be held from January 18 to February 3, 2026, at Thirunavaya, reviving the ancient Maha Makham tradition. Mahamandaleshwar Swami Anandavanam Bharathi, who is spearheading the initiative, said the organisers would not step back despite the order halting construction activities at the site.

Anandavanam Bharathi said in November last year, the organisers approached the district administration. “Since they had the election and other related works, they informed us that they would join us after that. The police and other officers are present at the venue all day long, and a few days ago, they advised us to complete the works quickly, as this event received wide publicity and was expected to attract large crowds. But suddenly, they came and stopped the construction,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, the district administration clarified that they halted only the construction works on the river, not the event. Officials of the district administration said action was taken against the use of heavy machinery, such as earthmovers, and the levelling of the riverbank, which are prohibited under rules aimed at conserving the Bharathapuzha.

Historically, Maha Makham was conducted at Thirunavaya during the reign of Cheraman Perumal and was held once every 12 years. Considered the southern equivalent of the Kumbh Mela in north India, the ritual gathering later continued in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. The upcoming ‘Kumbh Mela’ at Thirunavaya is being organised under the supervision of the Swami Anandavanam Bharathi-led Juna Akhara, the largest monastic order in India and one of the principal bodies associated with the Kumbh Mela.