Kumbh Mela is the biggest gathering of humanity. Here's how India does it

Digambar Naga Baba has held his right arm aloft for the past five years, an act symbolizing devotion and sacrifice. He claims this extreme austerity is to protect “Sanatan Dharma,” or the “Eternal Dharma,” a Sanskrit term often used to describe the ancient spiritual and moral foundation of Hinduism.

As a Naga Sadhu, a member of an ascetic sect devoted to the god Shiva, he lives a life of severe austerity, practicing celibacy and meditation. Naga Sadhus are easily identified by the ash covering their bodies, their matted dreadlocks, and their fully or partially naked bodies, reflecting their renunciation of worldly attachments.

“The only truth in life is death. Everything else is an illusion. Nothing is permanent in this world,” one holy man told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Although they usually reside in remote mountains or valleys, these holy men have gathered in large numbers to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest human gathering in the world.

The Kumbh Mela is considered the largest gathering in the world. Over 400 million people are expected to travel to Uttar Pradesh for the festival. This festival is held every 12 years in the holy city of Prayagraj, and this year’s event is particularly significant, with astrologers saying such an alignment of stars has not occurred in 144 years. “This is our grand festival; our excitement is beyond words,” said Rupali Gupta, an attendee.

More than 400 million people are expected to attend the festival in Prayagraj, a number that the Uttar Pradesh government says could exceed official estimates. Devotees perform rituals, offer prayers, and listen to spiritual discourses by saints and gurus. The massive festival will last 45 days. The event also includes religious debates, cultural performances, and communal meals for pilgrims. Families, elderly pilgrims, and even foreigners are drawn to the event.

“This is my first time at the Maha Kumbh Mela, and it is a great festival,” said Maria from Ukraine, who began her spiritual journey in India three years ago. The festival is attended by a diverse range of saints or holy men, ascetics, pilgrims, and tourists. For the next six weeks or so, Hindu pilgrims will gather at the confluence of three sacred rivers.

Another participant, Pradeep Gautam, stated, “The atmosphere here is surreal. I have come here to experience and witness the presence of great Hindu monks.” Prayagraj is revered as the site of Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. Hindus believe that bathing in these waters cleanses them of their past sins.

Hindus believe that bathing here during the Kumbh Mela washes away sins and breaks the cycle of rebirth. “We are human beings. We commit sins in our lives, right? So we come here to wash them off and become good. That’s why we come here from all over the world to bathe,” said Poornima Roy, a devotee.

The origins of this massive event can be traced back to the myth of the “Samudra Manthan,” or the churning of the ocean, where gods and demons churned the ocean to obtain the elixir of immortality. Legend has it that drops of the elixir fell on four earthly locations – Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik – which are now the sites of various Kumbh festivals. However, the Maha Kumbh Mela is considered the most important and grand.

Naga Sadhus are easily identified by the ash covering their bodies and their matted dreadlocks. The festival is considered particularly significant due to the alignment of the stars. The festival is rooted in the Hindu belief that the god Vishnu seized a golden pot containing the elixir of immortality from demons. The Kumbh festival rotates approximately every three years between the four pilgrimage sites, with dates determined by astrology.

On the opening day of the festival, 15 million people took a holy dip. Today, the number is expected to surpass 20 million. The largest gathering is expected on January 29, with 50 to 60 million devotees immersing themselves in the sacred waters. This year’s festival is shaping up to be the largest ever.

Authorities have built a vast temporary city across 4,000 hectares, equipped with 150,000 tents, 3,000 kitchens, 145,000 toilets, and nearly 100 parking lots. The festival has transformed into a massive temporary city, equipped with 150,000 tents, 3,000 kitchens, and 145,000 toilets. Over the next 45 days, at least 400 million people – more than the population of the United States – are expected to come to Prayagraj.

Indian Railways has deployed 98 special trains to accommodate the influx of pilgrims, in addition to its regular services. Security has also been heightened, with 40,000 personnel, including paramilitary forces, overseeing crowd control and safety. Over the six weeks, attendees will witness grand processions announcing the arrival of 13 monastic orders known as “akharas.”

Each “akhara” has its own deity, philosophy, and emphasis – ranging from meditation and yoga to martial arts. These orders also lead the first ritualistic bathing in the sacred rivers. This year's festival is expected to be the largest and grandest. According to local reports, the state's Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, a hardline Hindu monk, and his BJP government have invested over $1.3 billion in infrastructure and sanitation projects for the event.

Throughout Prayagraj, billboards featuring the faces of Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be seen, reflecting the government's efforts to link the festival to its broader Hindu nationalist agenda. Modi posted on X, saying, "The Maha Kumbh embodies the eternal spiritual heritage of India and celebrates faith and harmony." Many pilgrims will stay for the entire festival, bathing at sunrise each day.