Technology meets spirituality at India’s Maha Kumbh Mela, 400 million people expected

The Maha Kumbh Mela January 13 to February 26, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, is expected to draw a massive crowd of around 400 million (40 crore) people, the largest spiritual gathering in the world, posing a significant challenge for crowd management.

Speaking on the preparations for the Maha Kumbh, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Central Railway, Shashikant Tripathi told ANI, “… The Civil Administration has given us an estimate that around 40 crore people will reach Prayagraj during the Kumbh Mela… Crowd management is a big subject for us.”

The North Central Railway has devised a plan to ensure a smooth and safe experience for the pilgrims. The uni-directional movement to prevent chaos and congestion, and directing people to the ‘Yatri-Kendra’ before proceeding to their respective platforms.

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“We will keep the movement of the people uni-directional to avoid any criss-cross movement… Passengers will be taken to ‘Yatri-Kendra’ before going to their respective platforms to avoid confusion and unnecessary congestion on the platforms…,” said Tripathi.

To cater to the massive influx of pilgrims for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, Indian Railways will operate a staggering 13,000 trains over 50 days.

“During the 50 days (including 2-3 additional days before and after) the Kumbh Mela, 13,000 trains will run, which will have 10,000 regular trains and 3,000 special trains. There are around 700 Mela Special Trains for long-distance… Around 1,800 short-distance trains will operate for 200-300 kms… We are also running a ring rail for the devotees who want to go to Chitrakoot, Banaras and Ayodhya, including Prayagraj. This train will move in a circuit originating from Prayagraj,” added Tripathi.

The government and railway authorities are working together to ensure seamless communication, transportation, and amenities for the millions of devotees and visitors.

The 35-day festival of Maha Kumbh Mela is scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 26, 2025, at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Sarasvati rivers in Prayagraj. The event is expected to be a grand celebration, with various spiritual, cultural, and tourist attractions.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) participated in a mega mock exercise with Prayagraj Mela Authority and other agencies under the aegis of Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority in Prayagraj on Saturday, Jan. 4, to ensure safety, and to deal with any emergency, NDRF said in a press release.

The aim of this exercise was to establish better coordination with the Prayagraj Mela Authority, District Administration, SDRF, Police, Water Police, Fire Department, Health Department, and other important agencies.

All the specialized teams of NDRF (Flood Water Rescue, Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue, and Response Team for Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear Disasters) participated in this mega mock exercise under the guidance of Mohsin Shahidi, Deputy Inspector General (Operations) and Manoj Kumar Sharma, Deputy Inspector General (Nodal Officer NDRF).

The Maha Kumbh Mela Authority and the police department have established a high-tech computerized lost-and-found registration center utilizing AI technology, which is commonly referred to as the 1920 Center.
This center will help lost pilgrims reconnect with their families and friends. It will offer digital registration for lost pilgrims at all locations.

Giving information about the computerized lost-found center built on AI technology, Sector Magistrate Gyan Prakash said, “This time, the goal is to make the Kumbh a divine, grand, and digital experience. A computerized lost-and-found center has been established, fully utilizing AI technology. This technology allows us to search in various ways, such as checking how you looked 10 years ago compared to now or matching your photo with images on social media. People from different parts of the country will come to the Maha Kumbh, speaking a variety of dialects. During this event, their language will be translated into Hindi or English through computerized systems. A designated area will be available for lost individuals to stay, featuring halls with approximately 100 beds. If children become separated from their families, a toy center has also been set up for them to enjoy while they wait.”

In addition, a team of doctors at the center will provide psychological support. If someone is unable to see their relatives for an extended period and feels anxious about it, the team will offer counseling services to help them cope,” he added.

According to officials, there will always be ten people present for registration at the center. A reunion desk has been established, along with a police desk for assistance. In the event, if someone gets lost, the local police station will be contacted to help locate the person. Once found, the police will verify their identity and safely return them.

For Doordarshan video on the Maha Kumbh Mela : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXCnamGdKmI