Tens of thousands of Hindus gathered in Prayagraj on Monday to begin the Maha Kumbh Mela, a six-week festival attracting over 400 million visitors. Devotees immerse in the sacred rivers seeking absolution during the religious event held every 12 years.
Tens of thousands of Hindus braved freezing waters on Monday at the confluence of sacred rivers in Prayagraj, India, marking the start of the six-week Maha Kumbh Mela festival. This religious event, held once every 12 years, is expected to draw over 400 million visitors from around the world, making it the largest human gathering on the planet.
With as many as 40,000 police officers providing security and surveillance cameras equipped with artificial intelligence to monitor crowds, the authorities are preparing for an influx of visitors. The festival kicked off with the first ritual dip, attracting over 2.5 million people, followed by a "royal bath" reserved for ascetics on Tuesday. Participants believe these baths cleanse them of sins and offer salvation from the cycle of life and death.
Among the crowds, ascetic Hazari Lala Mishra expressed the deep significance of the event, saying it was a festival for hermits and monks. "We wait for it desperately," he added. Many attendees, like Priyanka Rajput, who visited with her spiritual mother, found the experience both exciting and overwhelming.
The origins of the Kumbh Mela trace back to Hindu mythology, where four drops of the nectar of immortality fell to Earth during a celestial battle, marking the festival's locations in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The Maha Kumbh, held once every 12 years, is particularly auspicious, drawing the largest crowds.
To manage the massive influx of people, authorities have set up a temporary city along the riverbanks, featuring 150,000 tents, 3,000 kitchens, and 145,000 restrooms. Indian Railways has also increased train services to accommodate festivalgoers. With the festival representing both a religious and cultural celebration, it offers a test in crowd management for the Indian government, which is working to balance logistical efforts with maintaining the event's sacred significance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Hindu nationalist party governs Uttar Pradesh, praised the Kumbh Mela for embodying India’s spiritual heritage, emphasizing the festival’s importance in promoting faith and harmony.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has moved to advance reforms of the Armenian Apostolic Church, signing a controversial roadmap with ten senior...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of January, covering the latest developments you need to k...
Taiwan has reported an unprecedented surge in cyberattacks originating from China, with an average of 2.63 million incidents a day recorded throughout...
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed the political significance of recent private meetings between Vladimir Putin and former K...
President Ilham Aliyev has held talks in Baku with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress, focusing on regional peace efforts, expanding bilat...
India and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged lists of nuclear facilities as well as civilian prisoners, under long-standing bilateral agreements, according to official statements from both countries.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
India’s largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has taken a significant step towards diversifying its crude oil supply by purchasing Colombian crude, from state oil company Ecopetrol, for the first time.
The long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan over Kashmir reached a dangerous peak in 2025, as missile strikes, drone warfare, and rapid military escalation brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of full-scale war.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that the Russia-Ukraine war is now threatening trade in the Black Sea.
Teenagers as young as 14 and 15 years old were among those who died in the bar fire on New Year's Eve that killed 40 people in Switzerland, police said on Sunday.
North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea, according to South Korea and Japan, as regional diplomacy and security concerns remain in focus.
The United States launched an overnight military operation in Venezuela and captured its long-serving President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said, pledging to place the country under temporary American control and signalling that U.S. forces could be deployed if necessary.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss the U.S. operation in Venezuela.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 5th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Taiwan has reported an unprecedented surge in cyberattacks originating from China, with an average of 2.63 million incidents a day recorded throughout 2025, according to a new government report.
World leaders and organisations have responded strongly to the United States’ military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and departure of President Nicolás Maduro. Many condemn the action as a breach of international law and calling for restraint and peaceful resolution.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (4 January) that the United States could carry out further military action in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said Washington now effectively controls the country.
Swiss police have confirmed that all 40 victims of the New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the mountain resort of Crans-Montana have now been identified, with more than half of those killed being teenagers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment