Mahakumbh Nagar | The Maha Kumbh, billed to be the world’s largest gathering, ends on Wednesday as it began 45 days ago – with lakhs of devotees surging towards the waters of the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, for a dip on the auspicious day of Shivratri.
The mega religious carnival wound to a close in a montage of images of the stampede that killed at least 30 people, the devout across every spectrum taking a dip in the belief it would cleanse their sins, huge crowds jostling not just at the Sangam but also stations and bus stands in north India and many a political slugfest over contested numbers and how clean the waters were.
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, 1.44 crore people took a holy dip till 6 pm on Wednesday. It said 66.21 crore people have visited Prayagraj since January 13, a number that exceeds the populations of all countries except China and India.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top ministers and film stars were among those who went to the Kumbh.
"From January 13, when the Maha Kumbh began on Paush Purnima, till today on the occasion of Mahashivratri... in 45 days, more than 66 crore 21 lakh devotees have taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. This is unprecedented in world history and truly unforgettable," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in a post in Hindi on X.
It was a gathering of the faithful and believers but also of those driven by interest in the fabled Kumbh, where religion meets culture, where spirituality and tradition fuse, and where AI and modern-day technology this time blended with ancient stories of gods and miracles. The stars were aligned too with seers claiming that celestial permutations and combinations during the event took place after 144 years.
It was a massive logistical exercise.
The religious fair witnessed unprecedented security measures, including anti-drone systems and AI-enabled cameras, to man the Mahakumbh Nagar's UP's makeshift 76th district set up for the event. It was spread across 40 hectares which remained abuzz with activity 24x7 over the past six weeks.
As tourists and pilgrims from distant corners began returning home and vendors, from across the country, readied to shut shop, many were seen trying to take a dip before the Kumbh finally ended. The ritual bath is at the centre of the pilgrimage. Devout Hindus believe the coveted sacred dip at the Sangam leads to 'moksha' or salvation, especially during the once-in-12-year planetary alignments.
"To me, the Maha Kumbh would conclude when the last devotee has taken a dip. Put differently, you can say that the mela would end with the start of the new day at 'Brahm Muhurt' or early morning on Thursday," Chidanand Saraswati, the president of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, who is camping at Prayagraj, told PTI.
While pilgrims took a holy dip on the last day of the mega religious event, Sukhoi fighter jets, AN-32 transport aircraft, and Chetak helicopters of the Indian Air Force performed thrilling aerial manoeuvres in the sky above them, leaving the spectators spellbound.
As part of the closing ceremony of the Mahakumbh, the IAF's skilled pilots showcased incredible aerial acrobatics as the roar of the aircraft drew every eye skyward.
According to an IAF official, the event was specially organised to salute the millions of devotees who had gathered for the Maha Kumbh.
Held every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh showcased India's age-old spiritual traditions, from the grand processions of akharas (monastic orders) and the ash-smeared Naga sadhus to modern tech-savvy babas, all of whom camped by the Sangam banks, drawing devotees from across the globe.
The akhara seers participated in three of the total six ‘snans’, known as Amrit snans - Makar Sankranti (January 14) Mauni Amavasya (January 29) and Basant Panchami (February 3). Though not an Amrit Snan, Maha Shivratri dip was among the last of the total six ‘snans’, the other two being Paush Purnima (January 13) and Maaghi Purnima (February 11-12).
The second Amrit snan on January 29 is when chaos – and tragedy -- broke out. The stampede near Sangam banks led to 30 deaths allegedly due to overcrowding.
The tragedy triggered a political slugfest with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slamming the Adityanath-led government to say it was a 'Mrityu Kumbh' and the BJP hitting back.
The Samajwadi Party and the Congress accused the Adityanath-led government of concealing the stampede toll.
But the devotees driven by faith, remained undeterred and kept growing in numbers even as a Central Pollution Control Board report on Ganga water quality triggered another controversy.
As millions took a dip in the confluence of rivers, the water quality also came under question amid claims of high levels of faecal bacteria and total coliform. Chief Minister Adityanath rejected the claims and said in the state assembly that Ganga water at the Sangam was fit for both "snan and aachman" (bathing and ritual drinking).
The opposition, including the SP, also questioned the pilgrim footfall cited by the government but the government cited the source of the numbers -- over 3,000 cameras, including 1,800 AI-enabled ones, underwater drones and 60,000 personnel.
"Along with AI cameras, we also maintained regular touch with railways, roadways and airport personnel to corroborate pilgrim data," a senior official told PTI.
The Kumbh, a familiar trope in Hindi films of the past when brothers and families separated in the surging crowds only to be united at the end, also saw nearly half a dozen fire incidents. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
"As many as 50 fire stations and 20 fire posts were always on standby to meet any situation," Chief Fire Officer Pramod Sharma noted.
In a first, "underwater drones" capable of diving up to 100 metres were deployed to provide round-the-clock surveillance at the Sangam area, the Culture Ministry had said ahead of the Kumbh.
Faith was the overriding factor, bypassing all considerations and apprehensions. This was apparent with the arrival of devotees like Bihar's Raushan Sah, who arrived for the dip along with his octogenarian mother and other family members. His brother was there on the day of the stampede but it mattered little.
"It was god's will so I could attend the Kumbh. I was here on Makar Sankranti day, and on the day the stampede happened," added Kirpal Singh from Jhansi.
The division between night and day blurred with pilgrims pouring into the ghat areas at all hours and vendors selling ‘puja’ ware while security personnel sought to manage the surge.
With 'Divya Kumbh, Bhavya Kumbh, Surakshit Kumbh' as its tagline, the Kumbh was billed as a great example of security and cleanliness. Security and sanitation personnel worked round-the-clock in multiple shifts to keep the area safe and clean.
State officials said 37,000 police personnel and 14,000 home guards were deployed at Maha Kumbh for security arrangements while 2,750 AI-based CCTVs, three Jal Police stations, 18 Jal Police control rooms, and 50 watchtowers were installed.
"Besides large-scale security arrangements, there has been regular monitoring of the social media 24x7 to check any spread of misinformation regarding the Maha Kumbh," DIG (Kumbh) Vaibhav Krishna told PTI as he oversaw law and order throughout the mega event from the ground.
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was among those who paid a special visit to the Mela and took a holy dip too.
Besides showbiz stars, business tycoons, including Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, along with family members visited the mela. Laura Powell, the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs, and British rock band Coldplay's Chris Martin, also came for the dip.
Actor-turned-sadhvi Mamata Kulkarni, anointed as a mahamandelshwashar of the Kinnar Akhara also hogged the limelight, triggering a controversy following objection from some seers, leading to her resignation, which was later withdrawn.
Social media influencer turned 'sadhvi' Harsha Richhariya, flower seller Monalisa Bhosle from Madhya Pradesh, and Abhay Singh famously known as 'IIT Baba', also made headlines at the Kumbh.
But this Kumbh, as all others before this, was about the common person, the many millions who forgot about everyday conveniences to meet their tryst with faith.
Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday hailed Maha Kumbh as a "grand confluence of faith, unity and equality".
The world's largest spiritual gathering neared its conclusion on Wednesday with the auspicious 'Mahashivratri Snan' (holy dip) at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj.
The chief minister also thanked the residents of Prayagraj for their patience and hospitality during the mega congregation.
In a post in Hindi on social media platform X, Adityanath said the 45-day event that began on 13 January on Paush Purnima witnessed a record-breaking footfall of over 66.21 crore devotees from across India and the world.
"This is unprecedented in world history and truly unforgettable," he said.
The chief minister attributed the grand success of the Maha Kumbh to the blessings of seers, sadhus, 'akharas' and religious leaders who, he said, transformed the event into a "divine and magnificent spectacle, spreading a message of unity to the entire world".
Expressing his gratitude, Adityanath extended his "heartfelt appreciation" to all dignitaries, pilgrims and Kalpavasis (those observing spiritual retreat during the Kumbh).
He also commended the Kumbh Mela administration, local authorities, police, sanitation workers, Ganga volunteers, NGOs, religious organisations, boatmen and various departments of the central and state governments for ensuring the seamless execution of the grand event.
CM Adityanath thanked the residents of Prayagraj in particular for their patience and hospitality, stating that their "warmth and dedication had left an indelible mark on the visitors".
Concluding his message, Adityanath invoked divine blessings, saying, "May Mother Ganga and Lord Beni Madhav bless you all."
Addressing the Legislative Council during the state's Budget Session on Tuesday, the chief minister noted that while 1.4 crore pilgrims visit Mecca annually for Haj and 80 lakh visit Vatican City in a year, Ayodhya alone welcomed 16 crore devotees "in just 52 days".
The Maha Kumbh has witnessed six special bathing dates -- Paush Purnima on January 13, Makar Sankranti on January 14, Mauni Amavasya on January 29, Basant Panchami on February 3, Maghi Purnima on February 12 and Mahashivratri on February 26 -- including three 'Amrit Snans'.
A stampede on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya last month led to the deaths of at least 30 people and left 60 injured, according to the government.
Mahashivratri commemorates the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and holds special significance in the context of the Kumbh Mela.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva played a crucial role in the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), which led to the emergence of the Amrit Kumbh (nectar pitcher), the very essence of the Kumbh Mela.
Mumbai | Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed the formation of an authority for the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar, underscoring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to manage crowd, officials said on Wednesday.
During the day, Fadnavis chaired a review meeting here on the preparations for the mega religious gathering. Nashik Divisional Commissioner Pravin Gedam made a presentation on the observations of a team from the state that visited the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, an official release said.
Fadnavis instructed officials to establish a legal framework for a dedicated authority for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, which will be held in 2027, to ensure smooth coordination among departments and accelerate project execution, it said.
“There is a need for infrastructure planning, considering a crowd four to five times larger than the previous Simhastha Kumbh. Plans should include crowd management, expansion of ghats, roads, and railway and air connectivity,” the statement said, quoting the CM.
The Nashik-Trimbak road will be widened to 24 metres, and a tent city will be set up along the route, Fadnavis said at the meeting. The possibility of constructing a road along the Godavari river will also be explored through drone surveys.
The CM directed the use of AI-based technology for real-time crowd monitoring, traffic regulation, and surveillance, the release said.
Digital exhibitions on the history and significance of the religious event will be set up at high-footfall areas to engage pilgrims. A competition to design a logo for the event was also proposed, said the statement.
It was also decided to analyse the data concerning the 2015 Kumbh data to improve planning. Continuous water flow in Godavari should be ensured so pilgrims can bathe in clean water. Provisions for land acquisition for the “Sadhu Gram”, health centres, fire safety, and public address systems were also discussed, the statement said.
Pilgrims are expected to arrive via Mumbai, Jawhar in Palghar district, Gujarat, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shirdi, Dhule, and Pune for the mega congregation.
Roads on these routes will be strengthened, and parking facilities will be set up to keep Nashik city vehicle-free during the event. Electric buses will transport pilgrims from parking areas to the city every three minutes, it said.
“Additional airport facilities will be created at Shirdi and Ozar to handle increased flights, and the feasibility of helipads in Nashik will be assessed. The railways will coordinate (with the authorities concerned) to improve facilities at Nashik Road, Igatpuri, and Kasara stations,” it said.
Fadnavis called for developing religious corridors connecting Nashik with nearby pilgrimage sites like Trimbakeshwar, Shirdi, Vani, Shani Shingnapur, and Mangi-Tungi, it said.
The Ram Kaal Path project in Nashik will be completed by next year, and beautification efforts for Kushavarta and other sacred water bodies in Trimbakeshwar will be undertaken. Unauthorised structures around Nashik and Trimbakeshwar temples will be removed, the statement said.
Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, who also attended the meeting, stressed the importance of public participation and workforce training for effective Kumbh management, the release said.
Artificial intelligence-driven solutions will be used for crowd control, and personnel working during the Kumbh will receive specialised training, it added.
Meanwhile, the 45-day Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj is set to conclude on Wednesday. According to the Uttar Pradesh government, over 60 crore pilgrims took a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati during the mega religious event.
