Maha Kumbh 2025: Festival of Faith, Records, and Unprecedented Footfall

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's office recently hailed this year's Maha Kumbh Mela as the "MahaKumbh of Records." According to the CM’s office, the 45-day religious festival, held from January 13 to February 26, 2025, achieved multiple Guinness World Records, reinforcing its status as the world’s largest congregation of faith. Among its achievements were the largest simultaneous river clean-up, the highest number of volunteers participating in a single-site cleanliness drive, and the most participants creating handprint paintings within just eight hours.

Initially expecting 45 crore devotees, the Maha Kumbh Mela exceeded all predictions, attracting over 66 crore visitors by its conclusion. This staggering number not only showcases the unwavering faith of millions but also sets a new benchmark for global religious gatherings.

The Significance of Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela, often referred to as the world’s largest peaceful gathering, draws millions of pilgrims who bathe in sacred rivers to cleanse themselves of sins and seek spiritual liberation. Rooted deeply in Hindu mythology, this grand festival is celebrated at four sacred locations in India—Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj—each situated along holy rivers such as the Ganges, Shipra, Godavari, and the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati in Prayagraj.

A Grand Finale Marked by Devotion

Despite the official conclusion of Maha Kumbh 2025, the spiritual fervor remains undiminished. Devotees continue to flock to the Triveni Sangam for holy dips, while shops and ashrams still hum with activity. The festival’s conclusion was marked by the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who actively participated in a cleanliness drive at Arail Ghat, removing waste from the Ganga and performing traditional prayers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a heartfelt blog titled ‘Ekta Ka Mahakumbh – Yug Parivartan Ki Aahat’ (The Kumbh of Unity – A Prelude to Change), lauded the festival’s scale and significance. He expressed his reverence for the holy rivers and sought forgiveness for any shortcomings in organizing the event. "This massive event was no easy task. I pray to Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, and Maa Sarasvati that if any aspect of our worship fell short, may they forgive us. Similarly, if there were any gaps in serving devotees, I humbly seek the people's forgiveness," he wrote.

Mahashivratri Holy Dip Draws Millions

The final holy bath on Mahashivratri, a crucial part of the Kumbh, saw a staggering 1.53 crore devotees take a dip at the Sangam. This brought the total number of pilgrims who bathed during the festival to 66.21 crore—nearly twice the population of the United States and more than the combined population of 193 countries.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed gratitude to all officials and workers involved in making the event a success. "This historic event, under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Yogi, was a lesson in logistics, faith, and service. We will take these learnings forward to improve future projects," he remarked.

Logistical Feats and Record-Breaking Footfall

With lakhs of devotees making their way to Prayagraj, the city’s infrastructure faced an unprecedented test. Prayagraj Airport, usually accustomed to modest passenger traffic, saw an extraordinary surge, handling a record 70 flights daily—including non-scheduled charters and private jets. On February 21, the airport set a record by handling 236 flights and 24,512 passengers in a single day, a stark contrast to its usual operations of about 20 flights daily.

According to Prayagraj Airport Director Mukesh Chandra Upadhyay, the footfall at the airport has already crossed three lakh passengers—three times more than the numbers recorded in the last Maha Kumbh in 2019. This surge is expected to rise further as devotees continue to pour in before the festival's complete wrap-up.

Who’s Who at Maha Kumbh 2025

Maha Kumbh 2025 attracted not only spiritual seekers but also dignitaries and celebrities from across India and the world. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several chief ministers, business tycoons such as Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and Bollywood actors including Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif were among those who visited the sacred gathering. Many VIPs opted for private jets and chartered flights to Prayagraj, reinforcing the significance of the Kumbh as a must-attend event for India’s elite.

Acing the cop act

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a special ₹10,000 bonus and the 'Maha Kumbh Seva Medal' for 75,000 police personnel who served during the historic Maha Kumbh gathering. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath praised their discipline and patience in managing the massive 45-day pilgrimage, highlighting their role in ensuring safety despite challenging crowd situations.

Addressing a gathering at the Ganga Mandapam, CM Adityanath credited the event’s success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the dedication of security personnel. He emphasized the Maha Kumbh’s economic impact, with ₹7,500 crore invested in Prayagraj’s infrastructure, resulting in a ₹3.5 lakh crore boost to the state’s economy.

CM Adityanath lauded the transformation of the UP Police from a force battling riots and mafia dominance to a ‘Mitra Police’ with global recognition. He acknowledged the contributions of multiple security forces, including the state police, paramilitary, NDRF, SDRF, and PAC.

With over 66.3 crore devotees and dignitaries from 100+ countries attending, he hailed the Maha Kumbh as a milestone in India’s global reputation.