PRAYAGRAJ, India, Feb 26 (V7N) — The 2025 Kumbh Mela concluded Wednesday in Prayagraj, with final ritual bathing ceremonies marking the end of the six-week-long Hindu festival. Organizers estimate that over 620 million devotees attended the event, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in history.

Held every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela is rooted in Hindu mythology, symbolizing the battle between deities and demons for the nectar of immortality. This year’s festival, which began on January 13, coincided with Maha Shivratri, a significant Hindu festival honoring Lord Shiva. Despite two deadly stampedes—one on January 29 that killed at least 30 people, and another at New Delhi’s railway station that left 18 dead—millions continued to throng the sacred riverbanks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have hailed the festival as the “grandest ever”, reinforcing their Hindu nationalist credentials ahead of upcoming elections. However, the government’s crowd estimates, reportedly based on AI and surveillance data, have been met with skepticism, given India's 1.4 billion population.

While the tragedies have cast a shadow over the event’s stellar management claims, the spiritual fervor of millions seeking salvation through ritual river baths has remained undeterred.