Hundreds of millions of Hindu devotees have gathered to bathe in sacred waters, undeterred by concerns regarding overcrowding and pollution, as the world’s largest religious gathering concluded on Wednesday in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Over a span of 45 days, the Maha Kumbh Mela, also known as the festival of the Sacred Pitcher, drew more than 620 million attendees—accounting for nearly one-third of India’s estimated 1.4 billion population. The event, held along the riverbanks in Prayagraj, was a grand display of color and devotion.
Pilgrims participated in a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three sacred rivers—the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati—believing that this act would purify their sins and bring them closer to “spiritual liberation.”
This festival, which occurs every 12 years with the prefix “Maha,” meaning great, is the largest form of the Kumbh Mela, which is otherwise held every three years in one of four designated cities.
“It is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” remarked Sushovan Sircar, a 36-year-old independent consultant from Delhi. “People from all over India are here, as I saw number plates of cars from almost every state.”
Despite concerns about overcrowding and reports of high contamination levels in key bathing sites, millions participated in the event. However, the celebrations were overshadowed by two separate tragic crowd crush incidents.
A report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), part of India’s Environment Ministry, highlighted alarming levels of coliform bacteria in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. This finding raised concerns despite the government’s emphasis on sustainability initiatives and sanitation measures.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dismissed the government report’s accuracy, asserting that the water was not only safe for bathing but also suitable for the Hindu ritual of drinking a handful after immersion.
Pilgrims often fully submerge themselves in the water, with some drinking or collecting the sacred water in containers.
‘My Sins Are Cleansed, But Not My Body’
Sircar recounted his experience of bathing at Sangam point—the most revered spot where the three rivers meet—twice last week.
“There is a concern because there is nothing I can do about the contamination in the water. In your mind, you tell yourself, this part looks clean, spend a few minutes in, recite prayers and come out,” he said.
He added humorously, “I took a shower for sins and then another shower for the contamination. So you need a bath after the bath… My sins are cleansed, but not (my) body.”
Ahead of the festival, India’s top environmental court had instructed state and federal pollution boards to ensure that the river water was clean enough for both drinking and bathing. The court mandated increased monitoring and sample collection of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, prohibiting any discharge of untreated sewage or solid waste.
However, a report submitted by the federal pollution board on February 3 revealed that faecal coliform levels, a key indicator of untreated sewage, were significantly above the safe limit of 2,500 units per 100 milliliters.
At multiple locations along the Ganges and Yamuna rivers near Prayagraj, the contamination levels exceeded the safe threshold by more than 1,000 times, according to the report.
Adityanath assured that his administration was continuously monitoring water levels to maintain quality standards.
Kumbh Mela organizers also defended their efforts, stating that an “exhaustive survey” was conducted on all 81 drains that release water into the rivers before the festival began.
“We have ensured that the water quality has been maintained,” said Vivek Chaturvedi, an official overseeing the Kumbh Mela.
Aishwary Sharma, a 31-year-old finance professional from Delhi, admitted he was aware of the potential pollution but still took part in the ritual.
“I think it is quite evident that the Ganga and Yamuna are not clean rivers,” he stated. “(But) there are many things that are bad for you… The air we breathe is so toxic for our health… It is just another thing that is polluted that could have a harmful impact on my health.”
For many, faith and devotion took precedence over health concerns.
“What (most people) are interested in is their devotion and religion and that they want to take that holy dip,” said Sunny Parasher, a 34-year-old from Panchkula in Haryana.
“Where there is devotion, where there is religion, there is no question,” he emphasized.
However, Kalpana Mishra, a 55-year-old housewife from Prayagraj, decided against taking another holy dip after reading the pollution board’s report.
“What does being a literate person mean if you hear all this and still decide to go?” she questioned.
Health experts warn that exposure to faecal contamination can cause waterborne diseases such as typhoid, diarrhea, cholera, gastroenteritis, E. coli infections, skin ailments, and vomiting.
Push to Clean the Rivers
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized cleaning the Ganges since assuming office in 2014, dedicating billions of dollars to sewage treatment, surface waste cleanup, and afforestation efforts.
The Ganges supports 400 million people who rely on it for their livelihood, but 50 cities along its course discharge nearly 3 billion liters of sewage daily. According to the World Bank, only a fraction of this waste undergoes treatment before entering the river.
The Yamuna, a major tributary of the Ganges, has also been severely impacted by untreated sewage and industrial chemicals for decades.
Ahead of the festival, authorities promoted the event as a “Green Kumbh,” emphasizing sustainability initiatives such as banning single-use plastics, introducing eco-friendly toilets, deploying electric rickshaws, and hiring 15,000 sanitation workers to manage waste during major bathing days.
In January, the Ministry of Culture stated that the festival had been “meticulously planned to uphold hygiene and ecological balance,” describing it as a model for future large-scale events worldwide.
Environmental responsibility was a major topic at a conference held during the festival, where religious and environmental leaders discussed ways in which religious institutions could contribute to addressing the climate crisis.
“If there is no water in the rivers, there is no Kumbh. We don’t consider it water, we consider it nectar,” said Swami Chidanand Saraswati, an Indian spiritual leader. “If we all do not make efforts to protect it, then the next (Kumbh Mela) will be on mere sand.”
Despite these efforts, the overwhelming turnout posed a significant challenge. The festival saw 250 million more attendees than initially anticipated. Authorities had planned for approximately 400 million people over six weeks—averaging about 9 million per day—but government estimates indicate that around 620 million participated.
“It is a mammoth task to take care of such a crowd,” stated Dr. Nupur Bahadur, associate director at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a research institute specializing in wastewater management.
To mitigate river contamination, Bahadur suggested implementing better on-site prevention and disinfection strategies.
“One of them could be halting the dip after every 12 hours for one hour” and allowing fresh water to flow through the bathing areas before “the dips can be restarted,” she proposed.
While the festival’s record-breaking turnout strained its infrastructure, Bahadur acknowledged that the management had achieved “the best human effort possible” under the circumstances.
For residents of Prayagraj, however, the return to normal life could not come soon enough.
“My eyes are constantly burning and there is so much dust,” said Mishra. “I want the festival to end so I can get back to my life.”
