One must consider the limitations of a legendary city tasked with ensuring the safety of 80 million people while maintaining its religious heritage. How can a hundred people live in a space designed for ten? This is an important issue to consider. Moreover, the nexus between VVIP culture and the government’s pursuit of profits—leasing out every available piece of land for revenue and involving middlemen—further complicates the matter. This is a matter of religious devotion, not competition or frenzy.
A Tragic Incident
It is unfortunate to hear about the stampede in Prayagraj, which resulted in the loss of many lives. The incident will undoubtedly spark widespread discussions across various media platforms. The opposition will criticize, while the government will attempt to justify its actions—but those who have died cannot be brought back. This is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred.
During the Kumbh Mela of 2013, the Mauni Amavasya bath at Sangam in Prayagraj took place on Sunday, February 10. Thirty-five people lost their lives due to crushing and falling, while dozens of others were injured and required hospital treatment for several days.
A similar incident happened in 1954, when Nehru took a bath at Sangam on Mauni Amavasya, attracting a massive crowd. A tragic accident occurred during this Kumbh Mela as well. An elephant went out of control, causing a stampede in which about 500 people lost their lives.
Following this incident, loudspeakers were used to control crowds and provide information. Additionally, over 1,000 streetlights were installed to illuminate the fair at night. This tragedy shook the entire nation, leading to a permanent ban on the use of elephants in the Kumbh Mela.
Organizing a small event at home takes considerable effort to ensure safety—here, the whole world converges in crowds of millions.
Who Is to Blame?
Some people are calling this the failure of the administration. It is easy to write and criticize, but when lakhs and crores of people gather—many of them elderly—accidents are always a possibility. At the ghats, thousands are bathing, thousands are exiting after their bath, and thousands more are arriving to take a dip at Sangam. In such conditions, accidents can and do happen.
It is important to remember that the administration cannot personally assist every devotee in taking a bath. Accidents can happen anywhere. Neither is the administration entirely at fault, nor can this be called an opposition conspiracy. It is simply an unfortunate accident.
Following the stampede, the situation in the entire Sangam area returned to normal, yet the media sensationalized the incident for TRP. The media has a responsibility to investigate and report the true causes of such incidents, rather than merely amplifying the tragedy.
Devotion, Discipline, and Crowd Management
Devotees coming to Maha Kumbh with deep faith should also exhibit a sense of responsibility. They should follow government-issued rules, discipline, and warnings with the same devotion that brought them to the event. When unexpected crowds gather in Ayodhya and Kashi, estimating the number of devotees at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj becomes nearly impossible.
Not everyone should insist on bathing only at Triveni Sangam. Bathing ghats have been built and spread over forty kilometers—eighty kilometers in total. Devotees should cooperate with arrangements and use these ghats.
Priorities and Mismanagement
It seems that the government is more focused on showcasing itself as the best organizer, while some people are more interested in promoting Sanatan Dharma through social media, neglecting the sentiments of common devotees.
For approximately 45 days during Brahma Kalpa, Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) takes place daily, yet religious leaders have not effectively communicated this to devotees. The real significance of Kumbh bathing has not been properly explained. If the religious figures who frequently appear on television discussing Sanatan Dharma had emphasized the importance of bathing during each prahar across the 45 days of Kalpavas, the massive crowd could have been better distributed, potentially preventing such tragedies.
The VIP Factor
Excessive publicity contributed to the enormous crowds at Maha Kumbh. Additionally, the undue importance given to VIPs—blocking common people on various routes or providing separate pathways for them—has also played a role in such incidents. A single small mistake is enough to trigger a stampede.
Another major issue is that influential and wealthy individuals, using their money and connections, usurp the rights of ordinary pilgrims by pushing them back. Is this not a sin? Will the sacred waters of the Ganges be able to wash away such injustices?
May the departed souls rest in peace.
(Note: Priyanka Saurabh is
Journalist and Columnist from
Arya Nagar, Hisar)
