India is all set to host the world’s largest gathering of humanity, with over 400 million people expected to gather in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj city for the Maha Kumbh Mela or the Great Pitcher Festival. The Maha Kumbh, a sacred event for Hindus, is set to begin on Monday, with devotees from across India and abroad lining up to take a holy dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers – the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical, invisible Saraswati. ,
During six weeks from January 13 to February 26, pilgrims will take part in elaborate rituals, prayers and religious processions with elephants, as well as horse parades and chariots.
Mythology behind Mahakumbh
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The organization of Maha Kumbh has its roots in Hindu mythology, which states that Lord Vishnu snatched from demons a golden pitcher, or Kumbh, which contained the elixir of immortality. In the 12-day divine battle for possession, four drops fell on earth, in the cities of Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, which host the festival as per rotation every three years.
Kumbh is held once every 12 years in this cycle and has the prefix ‘Maha’ (Great) because it is considered more auspicious due to its timing and attracts the largest crowd.
holy bath
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A central part of the Kumbh Mela rituals is bathing in sacred rivers, often led at dawn by naked, ash-stained monks. Devout Hindus believe that taking a dip in the holy water during the Kumbh Mela frees people from sins and frees them from the cycle of life and death.
Many pilgrims adopt a life of simplicity during the festival – taking vows of non-violence, celibacy and alms – and focus on prayer and meditation.
key dates
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The sacred bath takes place on every day of the Kumbh festival, but on the most auspicious dates it is known as the Shahi Snan or “Shahi Snan”. The celebrations also include a visually spectacular “aarti” when a large number of priests perform rituals holding flickering lamps.
Key dates include 13 January, which is the beginning of festivities that coincide with the full moon. One of the most popular days is Mauni Amavasya, January 29, when the celestial alignment is considered ideal for purifying water. The festivities end on 26 February, Maha Shivratri, the last holy bathing day.
mega test of crowd management
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Organizers say that the scale of preparations for the Kumbh Mela is like reestablishing a country. It is a big test for the authorities to showcase India’s ability to organize and manage the movement of millions of people and maintain the sanctity of the ancient festival.
4,000 hectares of open land along the rivers has been converted into a temporary city to accommodate 150,000 visitors in tents and is equipped with 3,000 kitchens, 145,000 toilets and 99 parking spaces.
Authorities are also installing 450,000 new electricity connections, more than the power consumed in a month in the region’s 100,000 urban apartments during the Kumbh.
Indian Railways has started 98 special trains that will make 3,300 trips to transport visitors during the festival, in addition to the regular trains connecting Prayagraj.
Uttar Pradesh police chief Prashant Kumar said around 40,000 police personnel and cyber crime experts have created a web of surveillance powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to protect and help the sea of humanity at the site.
“The safety of the pilgrims is our priority,” Kumar said.
Emergency response capabilities include 125 road ambulances, seven river ambulances and air ambulances for quick medical assistance.
The state government has allocated 64 billion rupees ($765 million) for this year’s event, officials said. It has promoted the Kumbh Mela in several international tourism exhibitions and invited foreign delegates.
