A six-week Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival, will be inaugurated in India on Monday, marking a sacred Hindu event anticipated to become the world’s largest gathering of humanity. The festival will showcase religion, spirituality, tourism, and crowd management on an unprecedented scale.

It is expected that over 400 million people will gather in the northern city of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, over six weeks to take a holy dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers—the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical, invisible Saraswati. “Devout Hindus believe that taking a dip in these sacred waters absolves one of sins and offers salvation from the cycle of life and death.”

The festival’s origin is rooted in a Hindu tradition, which holds that the god Vishnu wrested a golden pitcher containing the nectar of immortality from demons. During a 12-day celestial battle, four drops were said to have fallen to earth in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, which host the festival by rotation every three years. The Maha Kumbh, held once every 12 years, is considered the most auspicious, attracting the largest gathering due to its timing.

Indian Railways will facilitate the movement of millions by introducing 98 special trains, which will make 3,300 trips during the festival, complementing the regular train services to Prayagraj. A comprehensive web of surveillance, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), will be established by around 40,000 police personnel and cybercrime experts to manage and protect the immense crowd. “A web of surveillance powered by AI will be established to ensure safety,” noted Prashant Kumar, the police chief of Uttar Pradesh.
The event is seen as a testament to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) efforts to reclaim and glorify India’s religious and cultural heritage, a promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The state government has allocated 64 billion rupees ($765 million) for this year’s festival, which has been promoted at several international tourism expos, with invitations extended to foreign representatives.
This year’s Maha Kumbh Mela is not just a religious gathering; it is a grand celebration of India’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage, set to begin its remarkable journey on Monday.
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