Lucknow: The ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj has recorded a staggering footfall of over 50 crore devotees, surpassing the combined population of the United States and Russia, according to the Uttar Pradesh government.
The state government described this as the largest congregation in human history for any religious, cultural, or social event. The Hindu pilgrimage, held once every 12 years, began on January 13 and will continue until February 26 at the Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers converge.
Despite a stampede on January 29, which resulted in multiple casualties, the event continues to attract millions of pilgrims from across India and abroad.
Record-Breaking Participation
As of Friday evening (February 14), the government reported that over 92 lakh devotees took a holy dip in the sacred waters, pushing the overall count past 50 crore.
“The number of pilgrims visiting the Maha Kumbh has now exceeded the populations of nations like the United States, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, and Bangladesh,” the UP government stated.
According to the US Census Bureau, the world’s top 10 most populous countries are:
- India – 1.41 billion
- China – 1.40 billion
- United States – 342 million
- Indonesia – 283 million
- Pakistan – 257 million
- Nigeria – 242 million
- Brazil – 221 million
- Bangladesh – 170 million
- Russia – 140 million
- Mexico – 131 million
The government emphasized that only India and China have larger populations than the total number of visitors to Maha Kumbh 2025.
Yogi Adityanath Hails Devotees and Organizers
Following the milestone announcement, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to social media to praise the event’s significance.
“The Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, a living testament to India’s spirituality, unity, equality, and harmony, has welcomed over 50 crore devotees who have taken a sacred dip in the Triveni Sangam,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He further added:
“Of India’s 1.1 billion citizens, over 500 million follow Sanatan Dharma. The participation of more than 50 crore devotees in the Maha Kumbh is an expression of unwavering faith in Sanatan traditions. This truly marks the Amrit Kaal of public devotion.”
The Chief Minister extended gratitude to religious leaders, ascetics, pilgrims, and volunteers contributing to the event’s success.
“I sincerely thank all those involved in organizing this grand festival, including the Maha Kumbh Mela administration, local authorities, police, sanitation workers, voluntary organizations, religious institutions, and government departments.”
Akhilesh Yadav Criticizes Infrastructure Preparedness
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accused the Adityanath government of poor infrastructure planning, stating that the arrangements did not match the grand scale of the event.
“If the infrastructure was as strong as they claimed and they were truly preparing for 100 crore visitors, there wouldn’t have been so many transportation issues,” Yadav said while addressing reporters in Varanasi.
He further alleged that the government was hiding the actual death toll, including those who died from causes unrelated to the January 29 stampede.
“They keep inflating numbers. First, it was 50 crore visitors, and soon they will say 60 crore. But where is the official list of those who died in the stampede?”
Expectations for Record-Breaking Footfall
Before the Maha Kumbh began, authorities estimated a total footfall of 40 to 45 crore. However, the government now expects the number to exceed 60 crore, given that 12 more days remain, including a major bathing event on February 26.
On January 29, a record 8 crore devotees performed the sacred snan (holy dip) on Mauni Amavasya, making it the largest single-day gathering of the event.
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Additional major bathing days recorded high participation:
- Makar Sankranti (January 15): 3.5 crore devotees
- Paush Purnima (January 25): 1.7 crore devotees
- Basant Panchami (February 3): 2.57 crore devotees
- Magh Purnima (February 9): Over 2 crore devotees
Maha Kumbh Eyes World Record for Cleanliness
Officials have also revealed that the Maha Kumbh is set to achieve a world record for cleanliness and sanitation efforts.
Over 300 sanitation workers took part in a massive river-cleaning initiative at multiple ghats on Friday, marking one of the largest clean-up drives in history.
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A team from Guinness World Records has been monitoring the process. Once verified, it will be recognized as a global record for the highest number of sanitation workers cleaning a river at one time.
“This will be a historic achievement, showcasing not just the scale of Maha Kumbh but also our commitment to environmental responsibility,” an official said.
