Kumbh Mela Festival Draws to an End in Prayagraj with Millions Gathering in Spite of Tragedies

The Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, India, ended on Wednesday after six weeks of religious celebrations. Hundreds of millions of pilgrims descended to engage in sacred bathing rituals in the rivers, said to bring about salvation. The festival, which began on January 13, drew to an end on the Hindu festival of Maha Shivaratri, a day dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva.

Despite two deadly stampedes that claimed dozens of lives, the event was announced a success by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. They termed this year’s Kumbh Mela as the “grandest” one till date, with both leaders participating in the rituals themselves.

The festival was estimated to have been attended by over 640 million people by the Uttar Pradesh state government, although such statistics, based on AI and surveillance system records, are difficult to verify. Over 8 million pilgrims immersed themselves in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers on the final day.

The festival, which has its basis in Hindu mythology, is a sign of Hindu revival and religious rejuvenation. But it was tainted by two fatal stampedes: one on January 29, which claimed the lives of at least 30 people, and the other early in February at New Delhi railway station, taking 18 more lives. People still came in millions to the site in search of religious redemption despite the catastrophes.

Following the festival, there is a job of cleaning up the vast site by the organizers because the pilgrims have already headed back home in large numbers.