Over 420 Million Pilgrims Bathe at Kumbh Mela, Setting Record in India’s Largest Religious Festival

India’s government reported on Friday that over 420 million pilgrims have taken part in the ritual bath at the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering.

This number, calculated using artificial intelligence and surveillance cameras, represents a staggering figure—larger than the combined populations of the United States and Canada. The Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years in Prayagraj, celebrates Hindu prayers and bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The festival, which began in January, will run until February 26, with more than two weeks remaining. The figures, however, cannot be independently verified.