(CLO) The Maha Kumbh Mela festival, a sacred 6-week event of Hinduism, officially opened today (January 13) in Prayagraj city, Uttar Pradesh state, India.
It is considered the largest gathering of humanity, combining religion, tourism and the ability to organize large crowds.
More than 400 million people are expected to flock here to take a holy bath at the confluence of three sacred rivers – the Ganges, the Yamuna and the legendary Saraswati. Hindus believe that taking a dip in the holy water will help wash away sins and achieve liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.
Large crowds at the Ganges River during the 2019 Kumbh Mela festival. Photo: CC/Wiki
The festival is based on Hindu mythology, where Lord Vishnu won the pot of immortal nectar from the hands of the demons. During a 12-day battle in the heavens, four drops of nectar fell to the ground at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik – the locations where the festival is held every three years.
The Maha Kumbh, which takes place every 12 years, is considered particularly sacred and attracts the largest number of devotees.
The government has made elaborate preparations for this huge event. A 4,000-hectare area along the river has been transformed into a temporary city with 150,000 tents, 145,000 toilets, 3,000 kitchens and 99 parking lots.
The power system includes 450,000 new connections, meeting the huge demand equivalent to 100,000 homes in a month. Indian Railways also mobilized 98 special trains to transport pilgrims, making a total of 3,300 trips.
Some 40,000 police and cybersecurity experts were mobilized, with the help of artificial intelligence to monitor and direct crowds. Emergency response capabilities were bolstered with 125 road ambulances, seven river ambulances and several air ambulances.
The festival is not only a religious event but also has political and economic significance. The state government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has spent 64 billion rupees ($765 million) on organizing it, and has also promoted it extensively at international exhibitions to attract foreign tourists.
Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, NDTV, The Hindu)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/an-do-buoc-vao-le-hoi-maha-kumbh-mela-cuoc-tu-hop-lon-nhat-cua-nhan-loai-post330119.html
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