World's Largest Religious Festival Begins in India

Facts

• Maha Kumbh began on Monday in northern India's Prayagraj town, with millions taking a holy bath at the confluence of three rivers — Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.^[1][2]
• This year's festivities are reportedly special due to a rare alignment of four celestial bodies — the Sun, Moon, Saturn, and Jupiter — that occurs only once every 144 years.^[3]
• The Hindu festival is held every 12 years at the four sacred sites — Nasik, Ujjain, Prayagraj, and Haridwar — and its rituals aim to release one from the cycle of rebirth.^[4][5]
• More than 400M people are expected to participate in the 45-day festivities, with the state government allocating ₹64B ($765M) to organize the world's largest gathering of humanity.^[6][7]
• The government has set up a 4K-hectare township with medical camps, Wi-Fi connections, 3K kitchens, and 145K restrooms — all secured by over 40K police officers.^[6][8]
• According to the government, the "ardh," or half Kumbh, in Prayagraj in 2019 attracted 240M pilgrims.^[9]

Sources: ^[1]The Guardian, ^[2]Firstpost, ^[3]The Times of India, ^[4]Time, ^[5]Associated Press, ^[6]NDTV, ^[7]Reuters, ^[8]Hindustan Times and ^[9]Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by The Indian Express and News 18. Maha Kumbh is a breathtaking testament to human gathering and spiritual devotion, with an astounding 400M people coming together in a vibrant tapestry of beliefs and traditions. Saints, merchants, and pilgrims from all walks of life will unite in this extraordinary celebration, where ancient rituals blend seamlessly with modern sensibilities — creating an unparalleled display of India's cultural heritage.
• Narrative B, as provided by Sky News and Down To Earth. Maha Kumbh is set to leave troubling legacies — untreated waste choking rivers, sewage treatment plants overwhelmed beyond capacity, and dangerous contamination levels threatening human health and aquatic life. The convergence of winter respiratory risks, communicable diseases, and environmental degradation raises serious concerns about this Hindu religious festival's sustainability.