We owe it not only to our rivers but to future generations to rethink how we celebrate, congregate, and coexist with nature
The Kumbh Mela, a 45-day spiritual and religious gathering that draws millions of pilgrims to the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj, is an extraordinary event by any measure. Rooted deeply in the cultural and religious fabric of India, this festival represents a monumental act of faith.
Yet, beyond the spiritual euphoria lies a sobering reality: the massive environmental and logistical pressure exerted by such mega gatherings. Despite the Uttar Pradesh government's claims that infrastructure and resources were adequate to manage the influx, evidence on the ground — choked traffic, overloaded rail services, and visible ecological stress — suggests otherwise.
Most important celebration
Every twelfth year, when the Sun is in Aries and Jupiter simultaneously in Aquarius, this festival swells into the most important of all celebrations in the Hindu calendar — Kumbh, literally the "Festival of the Waterpot" (Aquarius is traditionally represented in astrology as a water carrier).
There are other mythological stories linked to the festival, including the churning of the ocean, where gods and demons fought for the pot (Kumbh) of nectar of immortality (Amrita). According to legend, drops of this nectar fell at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, making these sites sacred.
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However, this year the congregation was unique. A rare celestial alignment of Jupiter, the Sun, and the Moon — occurring after 144 years — elevated the event to the status of Maha Kumbh. While it holds immense spiritual and cultural significance, the sheer scale of the event presents numerous challenges, particularly in terms of crowd management, safety, and infrastructure.
Tragic stampedes have occurred during past editions of the Kumbh Mela, leading to loss of lives and raising serious concerns about the adequacy of safety mechanisms. This year, at least 30 people died and around 60 were injured in a stampede on January 29, 2025.
Capacity and claims: Glaring mismatch
Official estimates and state rhetoric painted a picture of preparedness. I remember the euphoria of preparedness shared by none other than the state’s urban development secretary five months prior to the event in Lucknow in a national mayor’s speech competition.
The state government announced that multiple bathing ghats were set up, roads widened, temporary accommodations built, and special trains and buses scheduled to handle the incoming tide of devotees. However, these arrangements buckled under pressure. Vehicular traffic surged uncontrollably, with gridlocks becoming the norm around Prayagraj, and some devotees walking more than 29 kms to reach the venue. Special trains, rather than relieving the load, were overwhelmed by crowds beyond capacity. This mismatch between projected and actual attendance, combined with poor real-time management, exposed significant flaws in planning and execution.
Mega festivals like the Kumbh are not just spiritual congregations — they are large-scale events akin to temporary cities. With over 660 million people attending over the 45 days (according to UP government’s estimates), the demand on civic infrastructure, water, sanitation, waste management, transportation, and security is unparalleled. While the scale of arrangements is indeed massive, the question remains: can any urban or semi-urban space truly be prepared for such volume without severe ecological and civic fallout?
Also read: No surprises in Modi’s Maha Kumbh speech, barring one glaring omission
Environmental vulnerability
Prayagraj may lie in the plains, but its ecological vulnerability is no less than that of mountainous regions. In fact, it may be more critical due to the high population density and urban sprawl along the riverbanks. The sheer pressure of millions of feet tramping through sensitive riparian zones, the construction of temporary infrastructure on floodplains, and the dumping of waste into the river wreak long-term damage on the ecosystem.
The river, during the Kumbh, becomes both a symbol of purification and a victim of pollution. The banks are subjected to levelling, soil compaction, altering the natural hydrology, and leading to increased siltation. As the crowd swells, garbage accumulates in staggering quantities — plastic bags, food wrappers, cloth, and other non-biodegradable items eventually find their way into the river. Temporary toilets, though set up in large numbers, often overflow or leak, seeping human waste into the groundwater and river itself.
Despite efforts to label the Kumbh as a “green mela” or an eco-conscious festival in recent years, the reality is far more complex. Water quality tests before and after the festival often show alarming spikes in coliform levels, indicating sewage contamination. The aquatic biodiversity suffers, with fish and plant life affected by lower oxygen levels and chemical influx. The fragile balance of the river system is disrupted, perhaps for months, if not years.
Long-term consequences
Environmental degradation caused by the Kumbh is not limited to the event duration. The ecological recovery of the river takes a long time, particularly when there are successive mass events with little to no restoration work in between. Siltation alters the course of the river, which can increase flood risks in the monsoon season. Encroachments made permanent after the festival — such as widened roads or flattened lands — undermine the floodplain’s ability to absorb excess water, making nearby settlements more vulnerable.
Also read: Centre has no data on Maha Kumbh stampede: MoS Home Nityanand Rai
There’s also the broader issue of precedent. When religious and cultural events are allowed to override ecological limits, it sends a message that environmental laws and sustainability can take a backseat to political or religious considerations. Over time, this erodes public accountability and emboldens further ecological violations.
In addition, with climate change altering rainfall patterns, river flow, and temperature norms, the ecological carrying capacity of riverine cities is shrinking. Future Kumbh gatherings, if not reimagined through a lens of sustainability, will find themselves clashing more directly with the climate crisis.
Crowd management, public health challenges
Mega gatherings come with their own set of administrative challenges, particularly around crowd control, hygiene, and sanitation. The sheer density of people in confined areas increases the risk of stampedes, communicable disease outbreaks, and disruption of essential services. Despite the deployment of security forces and digital surveillance tools, controlling such massive human flows without chaos is a formidable task.
Sanitation becomes a nightmare. Though lakhs of temporary toilets were constructed, they are often inadequate or poorly maintained. Waste disposal systems get overwhelmed, leading to open defecation in some areas. Waste pickers and sanitation workers face dangerous working conditions and inadequate protective gear.
Also read: Maha Kumbh symbol of unity in diversity: PM Modi in Lok Sabha
Individual hygiene is another concern. The scarcity of clean water, crowded tents, and communal bathing create environments ripe for the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and hepatitis. During past Kumbh Melas, public health officials have often raised alarms about under-reported cases of illness due to the fear of triggering panic or political backlash.
Mega festivals in fragile ecosystem
While cultural heritage and religious freedom must be respected, the question must be asked: are such large-scale festivals still advisable in today's environmental context? What should be the carrying capacity of such a mega festival? Can they be restructured, decentralised, or rotated across locations to lessen the strain on any one area? Can attendance be limited or staggered through a permit-based system, or managed through digital interventions and crowd analytics? Can we have a hybrid form of obeisance?
India, with its deep religious roots and democratic ethos, often walks a tightrope between faith and policy. However, sustainability should not be sacrificed at the altar of tradition. As we move deeper into an age of ecological uncertainty and resource constraints, such events must evolve. There is potential to transform the Kumbh into a global model of green gatherings — with innovations in composting, waste-to-energy, water recycling, and crowd technology. But this requires vision, political will, and above all, a shift in public consciousness.
Also read: Faith, filth and the myth: Pollution and self-purification of Ganges
Are we taking our rivers for granted?
Our rivers have always been central to our civilisation — sources of water, livelihoods, and spiritual inspiration. Yet, the way we treat them during festivals like the Kumbh suggests a troubling detachment from their ecological reality. Sacredness must not translate into sacrilege.
The Ganga, despite being worshipped, remains one of the most-polluted rivers in the world. Government schemes like Namami Gange aim to clean and revive the river, but such efforts are undone if mega festivals flood it with pollutants every few years. The contradiction between reverence and reality is stark.
We must reframe our relationship with rivers — from being exploitative to being symbiotic. Festivals can play a powerful role in this transformation if they are used as platforms for awareness, action, and restoration rather than unchecked expansion and ecological neglect.
At the crossroads
The Kumbh Mela stands at the crossroads of faith, culture, and environmental responsibility. While its historical and spiritual significance is undeniable, its current form poses serious challenges. The state’s claims of capacity must be matched with ground reality, and future events must be planned with ecological intelligence and public health at the forefront. We owe it not only to our rivers but to future generations to rethink how we celebrate, congregate, and coexist with nature.
Also read: Economy back on growth path, says govt data; Kumbh may have contributed
Mega festivals can still happen — but only if we learn to conduct them with mindfulness, sustainability, and respect for the very elements that make them possible.
(The Federal seeks to present views and opinions from all sides of the spectrum. The information, ideas or opinions in the article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Federal)
