ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE OF KUMBH MELA, 2019

Abstract

Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims, held in India. During this festival, participants bathe in a sacred river (UNESCO 2017). The 2019 Kumbh Mela, held in Prayagraj, India, was a major event with an estimated 240 million pilgrims participating. An event of this magnitude presents challenges. Increased population density, reduced hygienic conditions and exposure to environmental pollutants pave the way for easy transmission of pathogens. The study highlights a brief background and importance of Kumbh Mela with a description of the environmental concerns in Kumbh Mela and probable solutions.