Today marks the opening of India's Maha Kumbh Mela festival, touted as one of the largest gatherings in history. A projected 400 million visitors will participate in the pilgrimage over the next six weeks, as officials have set up a temporary 10,000-acre city, including 150,000 tents, 3,000 kitchens, and 99 parking lots.
The Hindu pilgrimage occurs once every three years at a rotation of four traditional river sites, with the most sacred occasion taking place in the city of Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) in the country's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, every 12 years. A sprawling pop-up economy of vendors supports participants as they ceremonially bathe in the Ganges River to wash away their sins (see explainer) and attend talks and discussions with religious leaders.
Observers claim the scale of investment in the event reflects the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's priority of reclaiming Hindu traditions from Islamic influences in the country, where 80% of the population is Hindu and 15% follows Islam. See photos here.
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