Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women from all over India flock to the northern city of Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh Mela festivaladvertised as the largest religious gathering in the world.
At least 400 million people are expected at the confluence of three holy rivers – the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical, invisible Saraswati – over the next 45 days, according to officials.
A vast area along the banks of the rivers was transformed into a sprawling tent city equipped with more than 3,000 kitchens and 150,000 toilets. Divided into 25 sections and spread over 40 square kilometers (15 square miles), the tent city also has housing, roads, electricity, water, communication towers and 11 hospitals. Murals depicting stories from Hindu scriptures are painted on the city walls.
Indian Railways has also introduced more than 90 special trains that will make nearly 3,300 trips during the festival to transport devotees, apart from regular trains.
About 50,000 security personnel are stationed in the city to maintain law and order and manage crowds. More than 2,500 cameras, some powered by artificial intelligence, will send information about crowd movement and density to four central control rooms, where officials can quickly deploy staff to avoid stampedes.
Over the next six weeks, Hindu pilgrims at the site will participate in elaborate rituals, hoping to begin a journey to achieve the ultimate goal of Hindu philosophy: freedom from the cycle of rebirth.
The festival has its roots in Hindu tradition which says that the god Vishnu stole from demons a golden pitcher containing the nectar of immortality. Hindus believe that a few drops fell in the cities of Prayagraj, Nashik, Ujjain and Haridwar, four places where the Kumbh festival has been held for centuries.
