Organisers in India are using artificial intelligence to manage the world's largest human gathering, the Kumbh Mela, in order to prevent deadly stampedes from occurring. With an estimated 400 million pilgrims expected to attend the festival, authorities are hoping that this technology will help improve their record of crowd management. By gathering accurate estimates of crowd sizes, they can be better prepared for potential trouble and ensure that every pilgrim can fulfill their spiritual duties safely.
The 45-day long Kumbh Mela festival, known as the largest religious gathering in the world, has begun in the Indian city of Prayagraj. The festival, held once every 12 years, has attracted an estimated 400 million attendees this year due to a rare astronomical alignment. With millions taking a holy dip on the first day, the festival has garnered international attention and can even be seen from space.
Laurene Powell Jobs, the wife of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, has surprised the media by arriving at the Maha Kumbh Mela in India. Known for her philanthropy and business acumen, Powell Jobs will be attending the first Shahi Snan while donning the saffron attire of a sanyasin. This rare appearance at the world's largest religious gathering showcases her spiritual side and her devotion to her guru, Swami Kailashananda.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering taking place in Prayagraj, India, has attracted millions of pilgrims seeking spiritual cleansing. Among the attendees are unique and colorful seers, such as a biker seer riding a Harley Davidson and a seer known as 'Splendor' baba who traveled on a three-wheeler motorcycle. This year's Maha Kumbh also features a former tea seller turned monk providing free coaching to civil service aspirants, a seer who has not taken a bath in 32 years, and a South Korean YouTuber documenting the festival. The Maha Kumbh also draws foreign tourists, including a former US Army soldier-turned-ascetic and a Brazilian yoga practitioner, all seeking spiritual enlightenment in the heart of India.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, a millennia-old religious festival, has commenced in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, with an estimated 40 crore people expected to attend. Government estimates predict that the event may generate up to Rs 2 lakh crore in economic growth for the state, which has allocated a budget of Rs 7,000 crore for the 45-day festival. With an average expenditure of Rs 5,000 per person, the economic impact could potentially reach Rs 4 lakh crore and boost both nominal and real GDP by over 1%. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has lauded the previous version of the festival in 2019, stating it contributed Rs 1.2 lakh crore to the state's economy.
The world's largest spiritual and cultural gathering, the Mahakumbh Mela, began on Monday in the holy city of Prayagraj, India. More than 40 lakh people from different backgrounds came together to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed the significance of this ancient tradition in a modern world and welcomed devotees and saints to the event.