A victim is brought to a hospital for treatment following a stampede before the second "Shahi Snan" (royal bath) during the ongoing "Maha Kumbh Mela" or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India, January 29, 2025.
Seven people were killed and around 10 injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India.
Wednesday's holy dip is considered special due to a rare celestial alignment not seen in 144 years.
Rishabh Dev, an early sage, broke his vow of silence on this day in Hindu mythology.
At least seven people were killed and around 10 injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, northern India, on Wednesday, officials said. The incident occurred on the most auspicious day of the six-week Great Pitcher Festival.
Hindus believe that taking a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers absolves them of sins and offers salvation from the cycle of birth and death.
A relative of an injured person stands inside an ambulance after a deadly stampede before the second "Shahi Snan" (royal bath) at the "Maha Kumbh Mela", or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India, January 29, 2025.Reuters
What makes the holy dip on Wednesday special?
Wednesday marks 'Mauni Amavasya', the new moon day observed with silence. It is considered especially auspicious this year due to a rare alignment of celestial bodies not seen in 144 years.
This cosmic alignment, known as 'Triveni Yog', mirrors a key event in Hindu mythology when the sun, moon, and Mercury align in Capricorn, with Jupiter in its ninth house of the zodiac.
Devotees try to leave the area after a deadly stampede before the second "Shahi Snan" (royal bath), at the "Maha Kumbh Mela" or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India January 29, 2025.Reuters
Hindu mythology holds that Rishabh Dev, one of the earliest sages, broke a long vow of silence on this day and took a dip in the holy waters.
It is believed that those who bathe in the waters on this day, called the Shahi Snan or royal bath, will attain spiritual growth and purification. The pre-dawn hours are considered the most auspicious for the dip.
How many people are expected?
Officials expect a record 100 million people to attend the festival on Wednesday, the largest crowd ever gathered for a single day at the Kumbh Mela.
A devotee crosses over a barricade, after a deadly stampede before the second "Shahi Snan" (royal bath), at the "Maha Kumbh Mela" or the Great Pitcher Festival in Prayagraj, India January 29, 2025.Reuters
By noon (0630 GMT), more than 42 million people had already taken a dip, officials said.
The previous record for the largest crowd on a single day was set in 2019 when 50 million people attended.
What arrangements were made for the big day?
Indian Railways more than doubled the number of trains for Wednesday, running 360 services from various parts of the country.
Over 1,000 medical personnel were deployed to the temporary Kumbh township, which spans 4,000 hectares. More doctors were also stationed at a super-speciality hospital in Prayagraj.
Hindu devotees are stopped by policemen after a deadly stampede before the second "Shahi Snan" (royal bath) at the "Maha Kumbh Mela", or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, India, January 29, 2025.Reuters
Local authorities made special arrangements for waste disposal, anticipating up to 1,500 tons of garbage to be generated each day during the festival, a significant increase from the usual 700 tons per day.
Security measures were stepped up, and traffic restrictions were imposed to help manage the massive crowds.
Comments
See what people are discussing