Over 500 million devotees have taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh, according to the Uttar Pradesh government. This event, which is being held in Prayagraj, marks the largest congregation in human history for any religious, cultural, or social gathering.
The number of participants surpasses the population of every country except India and China. The Maha Kumbh, which occurs every 12 years, began on January 13 and will continue until February 26. It is held at the Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers—considered sacred by Hindus.
Despite a tragic stampede on January 29, the fair has continued to attract millions of pilgrims daily from both India and around the world. As of 6 pm on a recent Friday, over 9.2 million devotees had taken a dip, pushing the overall attendance past 500 million.
The government emphasized that populous countries like the United States, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have smaller populations than the number of devotees attending the Kumbh. According to the US Census Bureau, only India and China have populations greater than the number of attendees. The world’s most populous nations include India with over 1.41 billion people and China with over 1.40 billion people.
Before the Maha Kumbh began, estimates by the government had predicted attendance figures between 400 million and 450 million. On January 29, a record-breaking 80 million devotees gathered in a single day for Mauni Amavasya, a significant day for the holy bath. Unfortunately, the same day witnessed a stampede at the Sangam, resulting in the loss of 30 lives and injuries to 60 others.