UP Man, Presumed Dead In Maha Kumbh Stampede, Returns On His 'Tehrvi'; Gives Bizarre Reason

Prayagraj: Similar to the plot of a masala Bollywood movie, a man presumed to be dead in the Maha Kumbh 2025 returned home after 13 days. The man, in his 60s, is a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. He walked back home on his tehrvi (the ritual performed in Hinduism on the 13th day of a person's death), reported The Times of India.

The man, identified as Khunti Guru, lives alone in a single room in Prayagraj's Zero Road locality. Notably, it is the only ancestral property left with him. As per locals, Guru's dad, Kanhaiyala Mishra, was a reputed lawyer.

According to the TOI report, shopkeepers in Guru's neighbourhood provide him with food and clothing in return for a daily dose of gossip and interesting anecdotes. The man generally sleeps in the compound of a local Shiva temple, even though he has a bed in his room.

Guru went to Maha Kumbh on January 28 to take a holy dip in the River Ganga on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The stampede occurred at the Maha Kumbh in the wee hours of January 29. As Guru did not return after the stampede, locals believe that he had died in the tragic incident,

On the evening of the 28th, he went to the Sangam, telling us that he was going to take a holy dip in the Ganga on Mauni Amavasya, but did not return. Following the stampede a day later, we searched for him everywhere but to no avail. Finally, presuming him dead, we conducted a small prayer for him on Tuesday, followed by a meal for the Brahmins and locals for the peace of his soul,” Abhai Awasthi, a local social worker, told the media house.

When locals asked about Guru's whereabouts all these days, he replied that he was with a group of sadhus. “I had a few chillums with a group of sadhus. I slept rather long, could be a few days,” Guru told locals, as reported by TOI.

Notably, at least 30 people lost their lives in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh on January 29. several others were also reportedly injured.