 "An earthmover works on the banks of the Ganges river preparing the site for the upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious festivals, in Prayagraj, India. AP")
The Maha Kumbh Mela is scheduled to take place in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj from January 13 (Paush Poornima) to February 26 (Maha Shivratri) next year.
The most propitious of these days occur in cycles of 12 years.
When the time comes for the mega-religious gathering, millions flock to the confluence of the Gangas, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
This year, officials estimate forecasting a footfall of around 400 million pilgrims, saints, ascetics and tourists.
Here’s an in-depth look at the preparations being made for the event.
Venue and attendees
Maha Kumbh 2025 will take place in UP’s Prayagraj, previously known as Allahabad.
Planning for even larger numbers in 2025, the state government has formed the Maha Kumbh Mela area in Prayagraj into a separate administrative district for four months. As the 2025 festival draws closer, construction of the temporary district is in full swing.
Divided into 25 sections and spread over 40 square kilometres, it will have housing, roads, electricity and water, and communication towers.
Compared to the 2019 Kumbh , the huge spiritual event will have a far bigger celebrations, spanning an extra 800 hectares.
It is expected to welcome over 450 million (45 crore) pilgrims, saints, ascetics, and tourists.
In charge of the preparations, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to make sure pilgrims from all over India and outside have a smooth experience.
While planning for such an incredible event can be a logistics nightmare, the local government has some experience.
Earlier, they successfully organised a smaller version of the festival called Ardh Kumbh, or Half Kumbh, in 2019, when 240 million pilgrims were recorded, with about 50 million taking a ritual bath on the busiest day.
Preparations underway
A month ahead of schedule, on Wednesday, CM Adityanath went over the preparations and promised that all will be finalised by December 10.
He underlined the success of earlier expansions, pointing out that the previous Kumbh could house almost 60,000 institutions and 80,000 tents. There will be 1.8 lakh tents this season, which will greatly expand the capacity for pilgrims and organisations.
About 20,000 workers are responsible for keeping the area and its more than 150,000 temporary toilets clean.
According to UP’s Minister for Jal Shakti and Flood Control Swatantra Dev Singh, 35 existing permanent ghats and 9 new ghats have been constructed for the convenience of the devotees taking a holy dip.
The Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple replica will be built on 2.5 acres of land that the Kumbh Mela authorities have given to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 13 reviewed the preparations for the 45-day mega-religious event and expressed satisfaction. After his visit, the focus switched to accelerating and finishing all assignments by the deadline.
The channelisation work is almost finished, and the pontoon bridge’s construction is moving forward quickly.
According to an official, major efforts like lighting, tents, and beautification are moving quickly to ensure preparedness within the allotted time frame.
He said the preparations for the event include a dedicated website and app, an AI-powered chatbot in 11 languages, QR-based passes for people and vehicles, a multilingual digital lost-and-found centre and other information technology-based facilities.
Singh said 101 smart parking facilities, capable of accommodating up to five lakh vehicles daily, have been created. The parking area spans 1,867.04 hectares.
Three technical methods, including “attribute method," RFID wristbands and mobile app tracking will be used to count every individual.
Enhanced security measures
A greater level of security is being put in place to guarantee devotees’ convenience and safety.
To provide round-the-clock security at Maha Kumbh 2025, CM Adityanath has ordered the deployment of 20 sophisticated drones.
These drones offer 24/7 surveillance, recording every action inside the large crowd and concentrating on small moves to keep the area safe.
Various departments, including Smart City, Municipal Corporation, Police, Healthcare, and Transportation, also keep an eye on construction projects.
The drones, which are operated by skilled workers, guarantee safety on land, in the sea, and in the air.
Prayagraj district has 56 police stations, 155 police outposts, one cyber cell thana, one Mahila thana, three jal police stations, and three anti-human trafficking units, according to The Times of India.
Healthcare preps for pilgrims
During Maha Kumbh, elaborate plans have been put in place to give pilgrims access to quality medical treatment.
Additionally, Indian Army doctors will offer their services free of cost.
A 100-bed hospital, two hospitals with 20 beds each and smaller hospitals with 8 beds have been set up. Besides, two 10-bed ICUs have been set up by the Army Hospital.
The authorities will deploy 291 MBBS doctors and specialists, 90 Ayurvedic and Unani specialists, and 182 nursing staff to attend to the medical needs of devotees and tourists.
During Netra Kumbh, ophthalmologists will assess five lakh pilgrims and provide three lakh sets of glasses to them.
The first Netra Kumbh in 2019 saw 1.5 lakh pairs of glasses distributed and three lakh persons tested, making it into the Limca Book of World Records.
At Netra Kumbh, 400 more medical experts and 150 doctors will provide services.
Spiritual and climate-conscious event
With a focus on spirituality and environmental awareness, Maha Kumbh 2025 is being planned to be plastic-free.
More than 1,500 “Ganga Sevadoots” are undergoing training to spearhead cleanliness campaigns and deter plastic usage. Their numbers will be increased if necessary.
Households will participate in the plastic-free initiative through the ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign. Devotees will also receive facility slips with the message.
About three lakh saplings have been planted across Prayagraj and they would be maintained even after the conclusion of the Mela, Minister Singh earlier said.
World’s largest ‘rangoli’
Prayagraj is preparing the biggest “Rangoli” in the world for the auspicious occasion.
This enormous piece of art will be 55,000 square feet in size, breaking previous records for both size and creative majesty.
The “Rangoli” is being created by a group of talented artists and volunteers, demonstrating India’s artistic and cultural heritage.
Aim for Guinness Records
UP aims to set four world records at Maha Kumbh: the largest synchronised sweeping drive, the largest e-vehicle parade, the most handprint paintings within 8 hours, and the largest river-cleaning drive.
With inputs from agencies