What is Kumbh Mela and why is this Hindu festival important?

Officials say at least 30 people were killed and another 60 injured in a crowd crush at a large -scale Kumbh Mela festival in India.

The world’s largest religious festival and the largest gathering of humanity, the event attracts millions of Hindu pilgrims on the banks of the holy river in India.

The festival held in four places in the 12 -year cycle, the festival lies in the search for Hindu mythology and spiritual purification.

Kumbh Mela is a religious gathering that attracts millions of Hindu pilgrims and spiritual seekers in India and around the world.

The event is deeply vested in Hindu mythology and is the center of faith in the pure power of the holy rivers. Pilgrims take bath in these rivers, assuming that the ritual cleanses their sins and brings them closer to spiritual liberation.

This festival revolves between four prominent places in India: prayer (Allahabad in the east), Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain. Each site is tied to a holy river – Ganga, Godavari or Shipra.

A full Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years in four cities. A half (“Ard”) Aquarius is placed on the middle-way between two full Kumbhas.

Officials say the 2025 festival is a Maha (great) Kumbh Mela, which takes place only every 144 years, making it an even more important event.

The name “Kumbh Mela” translates the “pitcher of the festival” in Sanskrit.

The “Aquarius” refers to the pitcher or pot that contains the nectar of immortality in Hindu mythology, while “fair” means a fair or gathering.

The Hindu scriptures recalled the legend of Samadra Manthan – churning of the ocean of milk by gods and demons in search of immortal nectar.

According to mythology, four drops of this nectar fell at the places where the Kumbh Mela is now celebrated, which made them holy.

Kumbh Mela attracts people from all areas of life, ranging from monks (Hindu holy men) to ordinary citizens, including family and international visitors.

While most of the attendees are Hindus, the incident also draws interest from people of other religions who are keen on its cultural and spiritual significance.

The festival is eventually an opportunity for attendees to seek spiritual renewal and salvation.

To bathe in the holy rivers during the festival is believed to be absent of sins, free the participants from the cycle of rebirth and bring them closer to salvation (spiritual liberation).

For many people, the pilgrimage for the Kumbh Mela is once a lifetime experience, which gives the opportunity to confirm their faith, connect with others and immerse themselves in the traditions of Hindu spirituality.

This festival is usually for about 45 days – 2025 Kumbh Mela is from 13 January to 26 February.

The program ends after the last nominated bath day, known as the last royal snin (Royal Bath).

The time and duration of each Kumbh Mela is determined by astrologers and religious authorities.

The festival is a mixture of religious rituals and cultural activities.

Its central feature is the royal snin (royal bath). These formal baths are led by the groups of the monk, including the Naga Sadhu, who symbolizes themselves covering and renunciation in ashes.

Bathing rituals, Kumbh Mela include spiritual discussion, religious procession, prayer and cultural performances.

Religious organizations set up several temporary camps, providing food, shelter and opportunities for spiritual learning.

The scale of Kumbh Mela is unique. The appearance varies, but the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj stands out for its sheer scale.

Officials say about 400 million people are expected to participate in a 45 -day period.

The people present on the sides of the rivers spread for 12 km spread.

Officers use a variety of sources to meet the number of pilgrims, but they believe that there is a possibility of some repetition. For example, one million long -term pilgrims, known as Kalpsis, are counted daily.

CCTV cameras are used to monitor congestion density in real time, while manual headcounts on entry and exit points also validate the number.

Drone monitoring provides air views of densely populated areas, especially during extreme events such as holy bathing days.

Analysis of mobile phone data, which uses the number of mobile devices active in the area, also helps in estimating crowds.

The Kumbh Mela is organized.

The authorities establish temporary cities with infrastructure to accommodate millions of people that participate.

Facilities provided include Makshift Hospital, Sanitation System and Transport Network.

The 2025 festival is expected to cover 4,000 hectares (40 sq km).

This will include:

• 160,000 tents
• 40,000 police and security officers
• 15,000 cleanliness workers
• 99 parking sites for more than half a million vehicles
• 30 floating pontoon bridge over the river
• 67,000 street lights
• 150,000 toilets
• 25,000 coaches