Hinduism's Surging Popularity to Attract One-Third of India to Mahakumbh: Official
18:16 20.01.2025 (Updated: 20:17 20.01.2025)
© AP Photo / Rajesh Kumar Singh
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Over 450 million visitors, including 1.5 million foreign tourists, are expected at the Mahakumbh 2025, a once-in-144-years event in Uttar Pradesh, running from 13 January to 26 February.
A growing awareness about Sanatan (Hindu) religious beliefs, especially among the youth, is one of the biggest reasons behind an unprecedented footfall at the ongoing 'Maha Kumbh Mela (Fair), making it the world's largest congregation, an advisor at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office (CMO) told Sputnik India on Monday.
"The growing awareness about the Sanatan belief system could be because of the growing use of social media among other factors. More youth are visiting the event than ever observed previously. We expect the trend of growing popularity of Kumbh to continue in coming years," said Sanjeev Singh, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
At a briefing in New Delhi, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, the Chief Advisor to Uttar Pradesh CM, stated that the expected Kumbh Mela attendance would exceed the combined population of North America (386.52 million) and Western Europe (199.75 million), surpassing the Rio Carnival, Hajj in Mecca, and Oktoberfest in Germany as well.
He estimated that by the end of the congregation next month, around a third of India would have taken a dip at the Triveni banks in Prayagraj, which hold special religious significance as the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
The official highlighted that foreign dignitaries, including foreign ambassadors stationed in Delhi, were also visiting the event in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state.
The footfall during the four 'shahi snaans' (royal bath), which fall on 13, 15 and 29 January, as well as 3,12 and 26 February, is expected to surge further. "Over 52 million took a dip in the 13-15 January period. We have made provisions to attract around 100 million visitors on the next date, which falls on 29 January," Awasthi said.
Further, Awasthi said that the authorities had deployed Artificial Intelligence (AI)-run cameras, satellites and various software among others to collate the visitor data.
"Additionally, we are relying on toll receipts, cellphone data and railway and airport arrivals to collate the data. The data is being calculated by the Central Control Room, updated every two hours," the CM advisor said.
Speaking about the significance of the event, OSD Singh explained that the Mahakumbh is a rare spectacle, occurring once every 144 years due to the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter. He also noted that the Kumbh has been held continuously since 1800 BC, making it one of the world’s oldest religious events.
He added that a Kumbh is held once every 12 years, which is also the time taken by Jupiter to complete a revolution of the Sun. Besides Prayagraj, Nashik (Maharashtra), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) are the other sites where the Kumbh takes place.
"Who said our ancestors didn't know about science? They knew about planetary alignments much before others. The dates of Kumbh are calculated very scientifically," stated Singh.
He highlighted that taking a dip in the Mahakumbh is believed to "wash off all the sins and cleanse one's soul".
Further, the official stated that all the 13 akharas (sects) of Hinduism, which comprise saints from all Hindu communities, were participating in the event, with this year's Mahakumbh also witnessing the participation of a transgender (kinnar) akhara for the first time.
"This is a symbol of cultural unity and equality, as is the vision of our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Akharas represent India's culture of unity in diversity and gender equality," Singh remarked.
Singh outlined the security arrangements, noting a "seven-layer security system" with over 51,000 personnel deployed across the 4,000-hectare area. The National Security Guard (NSG), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and Special Task Force (STF) are also providing enhanced security.
He said that around 2,750 AI-based CCTV cameras, 123 strategically-placed watch towers with snipers and advanced equipment to carry out "360-degree surveillance" were monitoring the proceedings. Singh said that 50 fire stations had also been set-up to take care of any contingency.
Singh highlighted the logistical arrangements, noting the construction of new terminals at Prayagraj Airport, seven new bus stations, 30 pontoon bridges, and upgrades to nine railway stations to accommodate the unprecedented arrivals.
He said that infrastructure and development projects not only in Prayagraj, but also in Varanasi and Ayodhya, other pilgrim centres, had turned Uttar Pradesh into India's "spiritual centre".
Presenting the expenditure estimate, Singh said that around $1.7 billion had been spent jointly by the state and the federal government to successfully organise the religious congregation.
"Around 566 projects, in the realm of railways, civil aviation, road building and beatification, water supply and sewerage, accommodation, public health and safety, have been undertaken for the successful organising of the Mahakumbh," Singh highlighted.
Citing estimates of economic gains due to the Mahakumbh event, Singh projected that the Mahakumbh-related infrastructure developments and investments could generate a "business gain" of up to $23 billion in coming years, boosting the state's GDP by one percent.
