Excitement Over the Maha Kumbh Mela, the World's Largest Hindu Festival, Amid the Tragic Stampede That Claimed 30 Lives

Excitement Over the Maha Kumbh Mela, the World's Largest Hindu Festival, Amid the Tragic Stampede That Claimed 30 Lives

The Maha Kumbh Mela is currently taking place in Prayagraj, a city in northern India, where just a day earlier, a tragic stampede led to the death of 30 people. Despite this tragedy, millions of devotees are still arriving to participate in the sacred pilgrimage and take the "holy dip."

The Maha Kumbh Mela, held once every 12 years, is expected to draw around 400 million devotees this year. The tragic stampede on Wednesday, which left 30 dead and 60 injured, has not deterred devotees from attending.

Krishna Soni, a student from the city of Bikaner, and his family of eight tied themselves together with a string to ensure they wouldn't get separated in the massive crowd.

The Kumbh Mela spans nearly 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres), equivalent to 7,500 football fields. This year's event has seen the installation of around 150,000 tents, along with an equal number of toilets.

The event is being held at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, where devotees bathe to earn spiritual merit, while Naga ascetics perform their rituals.

Stampedes have occurred during such massive religious gatherings in the past. However, even in the wake of this year's tragedy, the influx of devotees continues unabated.

Local authorities and police forces have implemented stringent safety measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.