A deadly stampede struck India's Kumbh Mela on Wednesday—a massive Hindu festival along the banks of the Ganges River, where up to 400 million pilgrims are expected over its six-week duration.

A Magnet for Devotees
Pilgrims from across India and beyond gather to participate in elaborate rituals, prayers, and religious processions featuring elephants, horseback parades, and chariots.

The grand Hindu mela, or fair, commenced on January 13 and continues until February 26 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Organizers describe the preparations as comparable to building a nation from scratch.

Despite advanced surveillance measures, including hundreds of cameras, drones, and AI crowd-monitoring systems, Wednesday's stampede claimed at least 15 lives, according to a local doctor.

The measures were intended to prevent tragedies like the 2013 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where 36 people were crushed to death. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in 1954, when over 400 pilgrims were trampled or drowned in a single day.

Authorities have constructed around 150,000 toilets and established vast community kitchens capable of feeding up to 50,000 people at once.

In 2019, the "Ardh Kumbh Mela" (half Kumbh) attracted 240 million visitors. This year's full Kumbh is bracing for an unprecedented 400 million pilgrims—more than the combined populations of the United States and Canada.

Special "Lost and Found" centers and a dedicated Kumbh Mela mobile app have been created to reunite lost pilgrims with their families.

Sacred Rituals and Spiritual Cleansing
The Kumbh Mela, meaning "festival of the sacred pitcher," is celebrated at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati rivers.

A highlight of the festival involves ritual bathing, often led by naked, ash-covered monks at dawn. Devotees believe immersion in the holy waters cleanses sins, liberating them from the cycle of rebirth and leading to ultimate salvation.

During the event, many pilgrims embrace vows of simplicity, including non-violence, celibacy, and charity, focusing deeply on prayer and meditation.

The festival has its roots in Hindu mythology, tracing back to a cosmic battle between gods and demons over a pitcher (kumbh) of the nectar of immortality.

According to legend, four drops of nectar spilled during the battle—one in Prayagraj, the current site of the festival. The other drops fell in Nashik, Ujjain, and Haridwar, where smaller Kumbh festivals are held in alternate years.

The event finds mention in ancient texts like the Rig Veda and historical records from the seventh-century Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar Hiuen Tsang.

While bathing occurs daily, specific dates are deemed especially sacred, with "Shahi Snan" (royal baths) attracting massive crowds.

A visual highlight is the "aarti" ceremony, where priests perform intricate rituals with flickering lamps. Devotees release glowing prayer lamps ("diya") crafted from baked flour, which float gently on the river's surface.

The Mauni Amavasya, celebrated on Wednesday, marked the festival's most auspicious day, believed to offer ideal celestial conditions for purifying waters.

The Kumbh Mela, which began with a full moon on January 13, will culminate on February 26, concluding with the final holy bathing day.