The Maha Kumbh 2025, a vibrant event spanning from 13 January to 26 February 2025, is currently underway in Prayagraj, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This festival also marks the 12-year orbital circuit of the planet Jupiter, or Brihaspati, the harbinger of good fortune and wealth.
Ritual bathing at the confluence of large rivers holds special significance for Hindus, adherents of Sanatana Dharma. One such confluence occurs at Prayagraj, where the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati meet. Bathing here is believed to have the power to wash away sins.
The Kumbh festival is named after the celestial pitcher, or Kumbha, that held the coveted Amrita, the nectar of immortality. In Satya Yuga, the Age of Truth and the first of the four yugas (aeons)—the others being Treta, Dvapara, and Kali (the current age)—there occurred the Amrita Manthan, or the Churning of the Ocean. The Asuras (demons) and the Devas (gods) fiercely battled over the source of eternal life. The churning resulted in the extraction of Amrita. During the epic battle, four drops of nectar fell on earth in places now held sacred: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, and Ujjain. All are located along the meeting points of rivers.
The present gathering commemorates the Maha Kumbh, which occurs every 144 years after the completion of 12 regular Kumbh cycles. The Maha Kumbh has seen a footfall of over 420 million pilgrims from all over India and the world, making it the largest gathering of people anywhere on earth.
A gathering of this scale presents its own challenges to the authorities, both local and national, testing their ability to coordinate the arrival and departure of pilgrims and to house them. Thousands of tents were set up just weeks before the gathering. They also had to ensure law and order to prevent untoward events. The organisational prowess of the authorities was sorely tested as they strove to preserve the sanctity of this ancient festival. Sandbags were laid for miles along the banks where pilgrims congregated. Approximately 2,760 CCTV cameras were deployed to monitor the throngs, prevent stampedes, and help families stay together.
The 2025 event has been dubbed the first digital Maha Kumbh, where police and volunteers used artificial intelligence-based software to locate missing people and deliver emergency alerts during unexpected crowd surges. They also installed underwater drones to monitor bathers and prevent drowning. The state government allocated US$765 million (64 billion rupees) for infrastructure and support of police, medical staff, and ambulances.
In preparation for Maha Kumbh 2025, dense forests have been developed at various locations across Prayagraj to ensure pure air and a healthy atmosphere for the millions of devotees expected to visit the city. The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation utilised the Japanese Miyawaki technique over the past two years to establish multiple oxygen banks, which have now transformed into lush green forests. These efforts have not only enhanced the greenery but also contributed to improving air quality, playing a crucial role in environmental conservation. The Corporation has planted trees at more than 10 locations in the city, covering an area of 55,800 square meters over the past two years.
The largest plantation, with around 120,000 trees of 63 species, has been done in the Naini industrial area, while 27,000 trees from 27 different species have been planted in Baswar after cleaning the city’s largest garbage dumping yard. This project is not only helping to eliminate industrial waste but is also reducing dust, dirt, and bad odour. Additionally, it’s improving the air quality of the city. Miyawaki forests have many benefits, such as reducing air and water pollution, preventing soil erosion, and increasing biodiversity.
The successful conduct of an event of the scale and magnitude of the Maha Kumbh is worthy of a case study in premier management schools across the world. It is an object lesson and a masterclass in event management! The magnificent celebration of the Maha Kumbh and the enduring reverence for the sacred waters of the Ganga and other holy rivers is a testimony to an ageless tradition and the vibrancy of Sanatana Dharma.
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