Mahakumbh 2025: 45 crore devotees, 40,000 security personnel
New Delhi: As the Maha Kumbh commences in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, with an anticipated four crore devotees preparing to take a sacred dip on January 13-14, a comprehensive seven-ring security strategy has transformed the mela area into a fortified zone to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
The festivities have commenced, with officials projecting that approximately one crore devotees will visit on Paush Purnima (January 13), followed by an estimated three crore individuals participating in the holy dip on Makar Sankranti (January 14).
In anticipation of the influx, law enforcement has designated the entire mela area as a ‘no vehicle zone’ and implemented a traffic diversion plan across all seven routes leading to the Sangam (confluence), as reported by the Times of India.
To bolster security, 2,751 CCTV cameras, including 328 equipped with artificial intelligence, have been strategically placed at critical locations such as Sangam and the tent city. Additionally, mela police have introduced advanced AI-driven analytics systems to enhance surveillance and crowd management.
According to IG (Prayagraj range) Prem Gautam, approximately 40,000 police personnel, including paramilitary forces and teams from UP technical services, have been deployed in and around the mela area. He further noted that all significant sites, including pandals, camps, tent cities, Sangam, and Sanskriti Gram, are under vigilant police observation.
To further strengthen security measures during the mela, an advanced anti-drone system has been activated, operated by a team of trained specialists. In conjunction with this, 20 high-tech drones have been deployed to ensure continuous, 24/7 surveillance.
These drones will provide real-time updates across all 25 sectors of the mela, capturing detailed images of the crowd with a single click, thereby facilitating a thorough and efficient monitoring system. The enhanced Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) will supply essential information for effective crowd control and traffic management.
Authorities have established 150,000 tents to accommodate the pilgrims, with the expected number of visitors projected to be three times the population of Russia. The administration is set to facilitate the provision of 450,000 new electricity connections, with more than half of these already distributed.
The Kumbh Mela attracts a wide array of participants, including saints and sadhus who adhere to strict spiritual practices, as well as hermits who emerge from their solitude to engage in the festivities. The appeal of the Kumbh extends internationally, drawing notable personalities such as actor Richard Gere, filmmaker David Lynch, and the Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama.
In 2017, the Kumbh Mela was recognized as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A congregation for salvation and purification, the Kumbh Mela occurs every three years in four cities situated along India’s sacred rivers, drawing millions of devotees. The “maha” Kumbh, which takes place once every 12 years, is considered particularly auspicious and attracts the largest crowds. Devotees hold the belief that immersing themselves in these rivers during the mela cleanses them of sins and offers liberation from the cycle of life and death.
