Kumbh Mela Clear Up - 24th March 2025

15,000 workers were brought in to clean up Prayagraj in northern India following the Kumbh Mela festival.

The Hindu festival holds the title of being the largest gathering of humanity on the planet and has been awarded Intangible Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO. The celebration involves believers bathing in the holy rivers to purify their souls and bring them closer to spiritual liberation.

Taking place every 12 years, the full Kumbh Mela's determined by Jupiter's orbit of the sun. But this year had particular significance. There was an astrological alignment which only occurs every 144 years.

Perhaps due to this, the impressive crowd in attendance this year more than tripled that of the half Kumbh Mela in 2019. And the number of bathers was believed to be in excess of 660 million by the end of the 45 day event.

To accommodate the visitors, a temporary 40 square kilometre city had been constructed. This was to allow for an expected 150,000 tents. 150,000 portable toilets were installed and around 10,000 sanitation workers were employed to maintain safety and hygiene.

Despite these efforts, the short term accommodation had to be taken down after the festival. This involved the removal of the portable toilets. Additionally, there was the dilemma of how to clear up a vast area which had been used for toilet needs.

A further 20,000 tonnes of rubbish had to be removed, including discarded clothing and plastic. The government's committed to the cleanup operation saying, "The dedication towards cleanliness… will continue to inspire efforts to keep Prayagraj and its sacred river clean for the generations to come."