The world’s largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela festival, has wrapped up in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh after over 600 million devotees took a holy dip in sacred waters. The six-week event drew massive crowds to the city of Prayagraj, where three holy rivers converge.
Festival attendees came from all over India to purify their sins and seek spiritual liberation through a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. While authorities touted this year’s gathering as “Green Kumbh” with sustainable initiatives, pollution concerns persisted.
Exposure to faecal contamination can cause waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera. Health experts warn that better on-site prevention and disinfection methods could manage river contamination.
Despite the challenges, the festival saw a massive increase in footfall, straining infrastructure. However, organizers praised it as the “best human effort possible” under difficult circumstances. Many residents expressed relief as the festival came to an end, eager to return to normal life.
The Indian Prime Minister has prioritized cleaning the Ganges and other rivers since taking office in 2014, with billions of dollars spent or pledged on sewage treatment and afforestation.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/bath-bath-world-largest-religious-040631358.html