Here’s what makes this year’s Maha Kumbh special

Event has been dubbed the ‘Digital Maha Kumbh’, with the deployment of AI-driven software, 2,760 CCTV cameras, and underwater drones to monitor the 4,000-hectare site
Here’s what makes this year’s Maha Kumbh special
Authorities have implemented advanced technologies to manage the massive crowds.Photographs by Vikas Choudhary
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The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering, is currently underway in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj. This year, the festival holds special significance as it marks the completion of 12 Kumbh Mela cycles, making it a once-in-144 years event.

Yesterday, on February 12, during the Maghi Purnima Snan, over 7.3 million devotees participated in the sacred bathing rituals at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.

The festival has attracted a significant number of international visitors, with pilgrims from countries such as Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States among those attending.
The festival has attracted a significant number of international visitors, with pilgrims from countries such as Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States among those attending.

The event has been dubbed the ‘Digital Maha Kumbh’, with the deployment of AI-driven software, 2,760 CCTV cameras, and underwater drones to monitor the 4,000-hectare site, detect emergencies and assist in reuniting lost individuals.

Despite this, on January 29, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred at the Sangam area, resulting in at least 30 fatalities and 60 injuries. This incident has prompted calls for enhanced safety measures and greater transparency in reporting.

The Kumbh Mela is based on the mythological story of the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean), which describes how the gods and demons churned the ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality (amrit). During this churning, a pot (Kumbh) of nectar emerged and while the gods and demons fought over it, drops of the nectar fell in four locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. These places are where the Kumbh Mela is held at different intervals.
The Kumbh Mela is based on the mythological story of the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean), which describes how the gods and demons churned the ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality (amrit). During this churning, a pot (Kumbh) of nectar emerged and while the gods and demons fought over it, drops of the nectar fell in four locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. These places are where the Kumbh Mela is held at different intervals.
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