The Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh has so far seen over 10 crore pilgrims take a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, which is the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. The figure had been crossed by 12 PM on January 23, 2025, as stated by the Uttar Pradesh government. The festival began on January 13, 2025, and will run until February 26, 2025.
Government Estimates: 45 Crore Visitors
The Yogi Adityanath-led government has estimated that the Maha Kumbh 2025 will witness more than 45 crore pilgrims by the culmination of the festival. The count of visitors has been rising steadily, with lakhs visiting the site every day to take the holy dip, which is believed to wash away sins and bestow spiritual merit.
Major Bathing Festivals
The largest crowds have been witnessed during major bathing festivals. Some notable statistics include:
More than 3.5 crore pilgrims bathed at the Sangam on Makar Sankranti (January 14).
Over 1.7 crore pilgrims participated in the ritual on Paush Purnima (January 25).
On one day alone, 30 lakh people, among them 10 lakh ‘kalpvasis’, took the sacred dip on January 23.
The next and the following bathing days like Mauni Amavasya on January 29 and Basant Panchami on February 3 are going to attract many more.
Maha Kumbh has brought improved safety and technology in one place
First ‘Digital Maha Kumbh’
This year, the Maha Kumbh has been identified as the ‘Digital Maha Kumbh’ as all safety and crowd management are technology driven. The salient features include the following:
Face Recognition Technology: High-end AI-powered systems will scan and avert stampede possibilities.
Live Surveillance: There are more than 2,760 CCTV cameras and underwater drones being used to survey the places.
Multilingual Helpdesk: The official Kumbh app incorporates chatbots which will guide visitors and help them at all levels.
All of these measures reflect the commitment of the government to pilgrims’ safety in such a huge congregation.
Infrastructure and Budget Allocation
₹7,000 Crore Investment
The Uttar Pradesh government has allotted a budget of ₹7,000 crore to the event by focusing on:
Infrastructure Development, including Sanitation and Waste Management.
Improved Security, by deploying more than 45,000 police forces across the city.
More than 55 temporary police stations have been established to attend to emergencies.
Despite the massive flow of devotees, daily life in Prayagraj remains largely unaffected, and schools, offices, and businesses carry on their daily work. Restrictions have been imposed only on major festival days to manage crowd surges.
Challenges and Safety Incidents
Fire Accident
A tented area caught fire on January 19, 2025. But the rapid action taken by authorities saw the inferno suppressed within minutes and no injury reports.
Crowd Management
The management of crowds by authorities has not led to any stampede situation so far in such large congregations. This risk has considerably decreased with AI-based crowd management systems.
Cosmic Significance
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 holds special significance due to a rare celestial alignment occurring once every 144 years. This has heightened the spiritual importance of the event, attracting not only Indian devotees but also pilgrims from around the world.
The Maha Kumbh 2025 continues to be a remarkable spectacle of spirituality, faith, and logistical efficiency. With more milestones anticipated in the coming weeks, the festival stands as a testament to India’s ability to blend tradition with modernity on an unprecedented scale.