Monumental Kumbh
Forty-five days, over 65 crore devotees, around Rs 3 lakh crore revenue — the Maha Kumbh was an overwhelming spectacle in more ways than one. The curtains came down on the mega festival on Wednesday as millions of pilgrims took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam on Mahashivratri. The whole world watched in awe, week after week, as India proudly showcased its spiritual magnificence as well as soft power. The 2025 edition was special as it witnessed an innovative confluence of tradition and technology. Digital lost-and-found centres helped reunite thousands of missing people with their family members. AI-driven systems played a vital role in estimating crowd density and tracking people. ‘Digital snan’ became the new buzzword as a start-up offered a service for those who were unable to attend the Maha Kumbh: prints of photos sent by devotees through WhatsApp were collected and immersed in the sacred waters on their behalf — it was as simple and convenient as that.
Crowd control was a major challenge throughout the festival, and the authorities did fairly well on this front despite huge odds. However, things went horribly wrong on Mauni Amavasya last month when crores of pilgrims jostled to take a dip. The resultant stampede led to the death of at least 30 people, according to the police, even as the Opposition has accused the Yogi government of concealing the actual death toll. This tragic incident must not be reduced to a mere footnote. For its own good, the government should come out with the truth, no matter how unpalatable.
Another dampener was the Central Pollution Control Board’s report that flagged alarming levels of faecal bacteria in the river water near Sangam. The report highlighted that water quality at multiple sites failed to meet prescribed bathing standards. The biggest lesson from the Maha Kumbh is that there should be no compromise on river water quality, sanitation and devotees’ safety. The mother of all religious festivals should not just be a picture-perfect money-spinner; it must strive for perfection in all respects.
