The Maha Kumbh Mela is an event in the year 2025 held at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and has seen a steep escalation of crowds like never before. More than 450 million (4.5 crore) pilgrims have taken the plunge at the Triveni Sangam Pilgrimage to the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati-as of February 11. And it has already gone way beyond the scorching anticipated number, for the festival will end on February 26.
On Paush Purnima in the year 2025, that is January 13, the festival commences. It has had its share of highs and lows. A gruesome stampede occurred on January 29, during that auspicious Mauni Amavasya, in which at least 30 people were killed and many more injured. But the turnout did not care, with millions taking part in the ritual baths.
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There is now offered by local businessman Deepak Goel for people who would, in any case, be unable to participate, the Digital Snan Service. For ₹1,100, a devotee who couldn’t join in could send his photograph to the entrepreneur on WhatsApp. Goel dipped the photographs into the Triveni Sangam in a symbolic way, thus creating the act of participation in the holy ritual out of it. The move had mixed feelings online, with some praising it as an innovative approach and others condemning it as a commercialized effort to bribe religion.
The giant arrangements made by the Uttar Pradesh government for organizing such numbers of pilgrims are holistically planned. The Maha Kumbh Mela area stretches up to 4000 hectares gross. There are around 25 sectors, with further infrastructure such as ghats, parishad bhawans, and parking lots. Security arrangements have also been put in place, with more than 45,000 deployed on attending duty and more than 3,000 CCTV cameras set up to cover the area event.
Maha Kumbha Mela 2025 is approaching its grand finish, it still offers an orientation point to spirituality, tradition, and modernity, wherein millions come pouring from all over to take part in its sacred rituals.
