Kumbh Mela Clear up

15,000 cleaning staff were required after the world's largest festival, in northern India. The Kumbh Mela, which has been included on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, was in Prayagraj this year.

The Hindu festival sees millions step into the holy rivers to clean their souls and free them from the cycle of birth and rebirth. The timing of the full festival's set by Jupiter's 12-year movement around the sun. However, as a result of a particularly lucky arrangement of important astrological objects, this event was especially unique. It's a once in 144 year occurrence.

That offers one explanation for the large increase in visitor numbers. They were three times as high as those in the 2019 half Kumbh Mela. And 660 million visitors are thought to have gone into the rivers over the 45 day event.

Organisers made a temporary city with 150,000 tents covering 40 square kilometres. In addition, there were 150,000 toilets along with 10,000 workers to make sure things remained clean and safe.

But when the event had finished, it all had to be taken down which involved clearing the toilets. It also created problems about how to clean a large area which had been used as open-air bathrooms.

To add to this was 20,000 tonnes of rubbish which needed removing, including clothing and plastic which had been left by visitors. The government's serious about cleaning. It's part of their plan to make sure that future generations can enjoy the festival as well.

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