On January 28, 2025, a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India, resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people and left hundreds injured. The incident at one of the world’s largest religious gatherings once again exposed the vulnerabilities of India’s mass pilgrimages. While such events are deeply embedded in the country’s cultural and religious fabric, they have increasingly become political battlegrounds where governance failures, political patronage, and infrastructural shortcomings intersect with faith.
For centuries, millions of Indians have undertaken pilgrimages as acts of devotion, seeking spiritual renewal and divine blessings. Events such as the Kumbh Mela, Amarnath Yatra, and Vaishno Devi pilgrimage hold profound religious significance, drawing crowds from all walks of life. The Kumbh Mela, in particular, is considered the world’s largest human gathering, with devotees believing that bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers cleanses one of all sins.
Beyond their religious significance, these pilgrimages serve as social equalizers. People from different castes, economic backgrounds, and regions embark on these journeys, creating temporary communities bound by faith. Unlike many structured Western religious events, Indian pilgrimages foster informal interactions between devotees and spiritual leaders, reinforcing a decentralized yet deeply interconnected religious experience.
Why Pilgrimages Are Central to Hindu Culture
Pilgrimage, or tirtha yatra, is an essential aspect of Hindu religious life. Unlike Western religious traditions where regular congregational worship in temples or churches is more common, Hinduism places significant emphasis on visiting sacred sites believed to be imbued with divine energy. Many Hindu texts, including the Mahabharata and the Puranas, extol the virtues of pilgrimage as a means to attain moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
The sheer scale of Indian pilgrimages distinguishes them from similar religious events in other countries. The Hajj in Saudi Arabia, for instance, is one of the most well-organized religious gatherings, with extensive state involvement and technological interventions to manage crowds. Similarly, Christian pilgrimages to Lourdes or Santiago de Compostela attract large numbers, but they rarely see the scale or spontaneity that characterizes Hindu religious journeys. The fluid and often unstructured nature of Indian pilgrimages, coupled with their sheer diversity—from riverbank bathing rituals to arduous mountain treks—makes them both deeply personal and challenging to regulate.
Additionally, Indian pilgrimages often reflect a communal spirit, where participation is as much about spiritual attainment as it is about collective identity. Families, villages, and entire communities embark on these journeys together, strengthening bonds and reaffirming cultural traditions. In contrast, many Western religious pilgrimages, while spiritually significant, are often undertaken individually or in small groups.
The economic dimension of these pilgrimages is also profound. Beyond spiritual fulfillment, these events sustain vast networks of businesses, including local artisans, transport providers, lodging facilities, and street vendors. Entire towns thrive on the influx of pilgrims, benefiting from tourism-related revenue, yet this unregulated growth often exacerbates overcrowding and infrastructure strain.
A History of Repeated Tragedies
The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela stampede is not an isolated event. India has witnessed several deadly stampedes at religious festivals, often exacerbated by overcrowding, inadequate exit routes, and mismanagement. In 2013, a stampede at the same festival led to the deaths of 36 pilgrims, while in 1954, a Kumbh Mela stampede in Prayagraj resulted in over 300 fatalities. Other major incidents include the 2008 Naina Devi temple stampede in Himachal Pradesh, which killed 162 people, and the 2011 Sabarimala stampede in Kerala, where over 100 devotees lost their lives.
A key factor behind these recurring disasters is the failure to address India’s crumbling pilgrimage infrastructure. Unlike other pilgrimages such as the Hajj, which follows a controlled and well-planned route with clear entry and exit points, Indian pilgrimages remain largely unregulated, with people arriving from multiple directions rather than following a single coordinated path. This unpredictability creates dangerous bottlenecks, especially near temples, riverbanks, and narrow roads leading to holy sites. Basic infrastructure—such as wider access roads, pedestrian-only zones, and emergency evacuation routes—could significantly reduce congestion and prevent deadly stampedes. Yet, successive governments have neglected long-term infrastructure improvements, leaving millions of pilgrims to navigate aging, inadequate facilities.
Beyond prevention, poor infrastructure also worsens post-disaster response. In the event of a stampede or medical emergency, narrow, congested pathways delay evacuations, while the lack of nearby hospitals or trauma centers significantly increases casualties. Most pilgrimage sites lack dedicated ambulance routes, emergency medical stations, or real-time crowd monitoring systems, making it nearly impossible to respond quickly to crises. When disasters occur, relief efforts are disorganized, delayed, and often rely on unprepared local authorities, further amplifying the loss of life.
Despite these tragedies, crowd management protocols remain inconsistent, with lessons from past disasters often ignored. Why is so little being done to control crowds and prevent future stampedes? Critics argue that political leaders prioritize the spectacle of these events, using them as platforms for showcasing religious nationalism rather than addressing critical safety concerns.
Religious pilgrimages in India are no longer purely spiritual experiences; they have become arenas for political mobilization. Leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties frequently use these events to demonstrate their commitment to Hindu religious identity. The BJP, in particular, has leveraged mass religious gatherings to solidify its base, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath often making high-profile visits to these festivals.
The increasing politicization of religious pilgrimages has had tangible effects on governance. Political leaders are hesitant to enforce stringent crowd control measures, fearing backlash from religious groups. The economic benefit many villages and towns rely on through these pilgrimages further prevents any action to reduce or control the number of people attending. Additionally, VIP treatment for politicians and their supporters frequently disrupts traffic flows and emergency response efforts. Following the recent tragedy, opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, accused the BJP-led government of prioritizing its own political gains over public safety, alleging that mismanagement and the lack of proper infrastructure were responsible for the deaths.
The Way Forward: Balancing Faith and Safety
India’s religious pilgrimages are an irreplaceable part of its cultural heritage. However, the sanctity of these events must not come at the cost of human lives. Political leaders must recognize that governance and public safety cannot be compromised for electoral gains. Implementing stringent safety regulations, investing in better infrastructure, and leveraging technology will be key in preventing future tragedies.
Greater coordination between local authorities, law enforcement, and religious institutions is necessary to establish standardized safety protocols. The deployment of AI-driven crowd management technology, improved medical facilities, and increased public awareness campaigns could help mitigate risks. Furthermore, regulating the commercial expansion around pilgrimage sites would ensure a balance between economic benefits and public safety.
The recent Maha Kumbh Mela stampede serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for reform. While faith continues to guide millions on their spiritual journeys, it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that devotion does not turn into disaster. If authorities fail to take meaningful action, India will continue to witness the deadly cycle of stampedes, with lives lost in the name of religion and politics.
Cover photo: Sadhus and devotees take a dip at Triveni Sangam on the occasion of “Mauni Amavasya”, during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Sandeep Rastogi / The Times of India / The Times of India via AFP)
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to see and interact with our latest contents.
If you like our stories, events, publications and dossiers, sign up for our newsletter (twice a month).