Largest gathering of humanity begins in India (VIDEOS)
Thousands of devotees have bathed at the confluence of three rivers, marking the start of the Maha Kumbh festival
The 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela festival began in India on Monday with a ritual dip taken by tens of thousands of Hindus seeking to cleanse themselves of their sins. The event is expected to attract 400 million devotees this year.
The Maha (or ‘great’) Kumbh festival will continue until February 26 in Prayagraj, a city at the confluence of three rivers – the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati – in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Devotes bathed at 3:20am local time on the bank of Triveni Sangam – a point of convergence for the three rivers considered sacred by Hindus.
In Hinduism, the term ‘Kumbh’ refers to a pot of nectar, while ‘Mela’ means a fair or gathering. It is believed that during a cosmic battle between the gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras) for the nectar of immortality (Amrit), drops of this nectar fell at four locations across India: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, and Ujjain. These sites became sacred, and the Kumbh Mela is a celebration of this event.
Devotees believe that bathing in the sacred rivers during the Kumbh Mela purifies the soul, removes sins, and grants spiritual salvation. While the Kumbh Mela is celebrated every year, the Maha Kumbh is considered the most auspicious, as it occurs once every 12 years in Prayagraj.
Formerly known as Allahabad, Prayagraj was renamed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2018, a move aimed at recognizing the city’s identity as a spiritual destination for Hindu pilgrims.
महाकुम्भ 2025 का भव्य शुभारंभ! आप भी पधारिये प्रयागराज, इस अविस्मरणीय आयोजन के साक्षी बनिये।#MahaKumbh2025 #MahaKumbhMela2025 #KumbhMela #KumbhMela2025 #kumbh2025 #kumbh pic.twitter.com/mPrAWPWfWA
— MahaKumbh 2025 (@KumbhMela2025) January 13, 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended an invitation to people from around the world to attend the festival, which was recognized by UNESCO in 2017 as an “intangible cultural heritage of humanity.”
With around 400 million people expected to attend the event, security has been enhanced with the use of drones and AI-enabled cameras, according to local media reports. Police and security agencies have deployed tethered drones and underwater drones for surveillance.
The biggest Sangam of Sanatanis #KumbhMela2025 pic.twitter.com/h9Ep0oZ0dc
— Singh Varun (@singhvarun) January 13, 2025
Tethered drones, which can fly up to 120 meters above the ground, will monitor crowds from above and help pinpoint areas requiring security or medical attention. Meanwhile, underwater drones can dive up to 100 meters in the area where the three rivers meet.
Over 2,500 AI-powered cameras with facial recognition technology will be strategically placed throughout Prayagraj, especially at key entry points. These will provide real-time monitoring, ensuring quick responses to any incidents and improving overall crowd management, officials said.
Tens of Thousands Take Dip on First Day of Maha Kumbh
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) January 13, 2025
Braving the cold waters at the confluence of sacred rivers in Prayagraj, India is marking the start of the world's largest gathering of humanity for the six-week religious festival. https://t.co/jvkef9JUr9 pic.twitter.com/dLgmkgr6Tw
The Uttar Pradesh government has established 150,000 tents to accommodate pilgrims, along with sanitation facilities. The festival site has 450,000 new electricity connections as the power consumption during the 45-day event is expected to be equivalent to that of 100,000 urban apartments in a month.
Indian Railways also has introduced 98 special trains, which will complete over 3,000 trips during the festival. The measures have been put in place to prevent accidents such as the one in 2013, when a stampede killed 36 people.