Religious gatherings are powerful expressions of faith, unity, and devotion that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries. From the Haj pilgrimage in Mecca to Easter celebrations at the Vatican, these events attract millions. Yet, one event stands out for its scale — the Maha Kumbh, held every 144 years and currently drawing to a close in Prayagraj (Allahabad), India.

Maha Kumbh is not just a festival but a monumental exercise in human coordination. For the sacred dip, millions of devotees, saints, and ascetics converge at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, making it the largest religious congregation in the world. While it inspires awe, it also presents enormous logistical challenges, prompting admiration and critique.

The Elusive Dream of a Flawless Kumbh

Large-scale events inevitably attract scrutiny. It is very easy to highlight crowd mismanagement, sanitation issues, traffic snarls, or even allegations of political favouritism. Pointing out flaws often creates an illusion of superiority, but expecting absolute perfection in an event of this magnitude is unrealistic. If infrastructural and logistical struggles mark daily life in India, how can one expect an event of such scale to be flawless?

Yet, Kumbh 2025, led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aspired to achieve excellence. Planning began years in advance, with substantial investments in infrastructure — dedicated bathing ghats, sanitation, waste disposal mechanisms, drone........

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