The Maha Kumbh Mera, or the Great Pitcher Festival, attracts hundreds of millions of pilgrims and tourists to India. The 45-day festival, which began on January 13th, is the world's largest gathering of humanity. It is expected to attract around 420 million.
That's about 200 times more Muslim pilgrims who took part in the annual Hajj in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia last year. It is so big that it can be seen from space.
According to the Hindu Bible, God and the devil once burned the seas of the universe in search of immortal nectar. During this struggle, drops of nectar fell in four sacred places. The Spiritual Hindu Festival takes place once every 12 years at one of these four locations.
This year, it will be held in Prayagraj city in Uttar Pradesh, North India. This year's event is considered particularly special as it matches the unusual, once-in-a-century heavenly composition.
The world's largest religious gathering begins in India and is expected to be attended by hundreds of millions of Hindus
Hundreds of boats and thousands of followers along the banks of Prayagraj. (Ava Poonawala)
A crowd of crowds descended into northern India to soak in the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. Hindus, which accounts for nearly 80% of India's more than 1.4 billion people, believes that the third invisible river, the mythical Saraswati, will also meet at the confluence.
Legend believes that immersing in the sacred land will cleanse sin and provide salvation. Bathing occurs every day, but on the most auspicious day, Nagasadus, Hindu ascetics head to the sacred river at dawn.
Ava Poonawala, a resident of Mumbai, India, explained the journey to Fox News Digital, not as a pilgrim, but as “witting the world's biggest religious event in our lifetime.” She dipped at 6am while the sun was rising.
After her chilly dip, she was energized and expressed a sense of peace.
“It seemed like everyone was there for one purpose,” she told Fox News Digital. “It was a spiritual awakening.”
Rudraksh Baba set up camp in Prayagraj wearing thousands of beads. (Ava Poonawala)
Maha Kumbh Mela is a large-scale initiative by all standards. To cater to tens of thousands of saints, pilgrims and tourists, authorities built a vast city of tents on the riverbank. It is equipped with over 150,000 tents and toilets, 3,000 kitchens, 11 hospitals, roads, electricity, water and communication towers.
It covers approximately 15 square miles. Approximately 50,000 security officers, supported by artificial intelligence cameras, are stationed in the city to maintain law, order and manage the crowds.
“I was overwhelmed by the incredible size of this event,” Poonawala told Fox News Digital. “The way they put this all together is unimaginable.”
Stampede, which killed 121 in India, was caused by serious overcrowding and lack of exit, authorities say
Last week's festival was erupted, killing about 30 people and reportedly injured more. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness to the “believers who have lost their loved ones” without designating the death.
Police reported that stampedes had occurred as hundreds of millions of pilgrims rushed over to soak in the sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the festival. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said some followers tried to jump the crowd-controlled barricade, causing a crash. The grand procession of Kumbh, which was cut off last week, has since resumed.
Before the stampede, a short but large fire was seen at the festival, which quickly disappeared.
Woman injured in stampede at Maha Kumbh Festival is Sangam security guard, Ganges, Yamuna, Mythical Saraswati River, Mauni Amavasia, or New Moon Day, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, 1st 2025 The 29th of the month. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
At least 30 people have died in Stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh Festival in India, police say
For many, the wonders of Maha Kumbh Mera are varied in religious or spiritual experiences, or rather cultural extravagance. It does not only unite the ashes painted monks, naked ascetics and priests, dressed in saffron, head to toe. It also attracts tourists with selfie sticks and adorable foreigners.
Uttar Pradesh has put a great effort into promoting this year's festival as a tourist event, offering luxurious packages and experiences. The government organized helicopters to shower saints and seers with petals on the saints. The state has allocated more than $765 million to this year's event.
Kumbh has attracted people from all strata of society, including billionaires like Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of the late Steve Jobs, and athletes like Olympic boxer Marycom. Bollywood stars and celebrities like Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and his fiancee, actress Dakota Johnson, have come down to the festival.
Even royals like King Jigme Ksar Namgir Wanchak of Bhutan appeared. On Wednesday, just a week after the stampede, Prime Minister Modi arrived at Prayagraj to take a sacred dip.
A priest covered in saffron from Maha Kumbh Mera in 2025. (Ava Poonawala)
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The popularity of Kumbh Mela has been steadily increasing in size over the years as infrastructure and facility improvements are attracting more people. This year, for the first time, the large event also boasts a plastic-free, environmentally friendly. The festival is an important test for India to showcase Hinduism and culture and deal with tourism and crowd management.
“The ground was bustling all the time, up until the night,” Punawara said. “It was so surreal with that purity. I can't even start explaining it.”
