Sustainability Karma

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Mahakumbh 2025: How to cope with environmental sustainability

Ensuring environmental sustainability ranging from providing sanitation facilities to managing waste is one of the main thrust areas at Mahakumbh 2025 organised by Prayagraj Mela Authority, which is implementing over 550 projects with an estimated budget of Rs 7,000 crore.

Munmun Jha and Sayan Chattopadhyay are faculty members at IIT Kanpur.

The Mahakumbh at Prayagraj in 2025 marks a monumental event in the spiritual and cultural history of independent India. Occurring once every 144 years, this Mahakumbh is set to be one of the largest human gatherings ever witnessed, drawing over 400 million attendees to the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, known as Triveni Sangam. This congregation, which is being held over a period of 45 days, spanning from 13 January to 26 February, will bring together a diverse group of pilgrims, ascetics, saints, and tourists from across the globe, united in their quest for spiritual enlightenment and cultural connection.

Organising an event of such immense scale poses a formidable challenge. The responsibility for its management lies with the Prayagraj Mela Authority (PMA), the central body overseeing Mahakumbh 2025 under the guidance of the Uttar Pradesh government. Tasked with ensuring the smooth execution of the event, the PMA is implementing over 550 projects, with an estimated budget of ₹7,000 crores. These initiatives span infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, security enhancements, and essential services to accommodate and ensure the safety and comfort of millions of attendees.

To support this monumental effort, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) is undertaking a comprehensive review of Mahakumbh 2025. IIT Kanpur’s primary task is to produce a detailed review report that captures the planning, organization, and execution of the event. This report will provide critical insights and recommendations to inform and enhance the organisation ofthe Kumbh mela in future.

IIT Kanpur’s involvement is marked by its multidisciplinary approach, leveraging expertise from diverse fields such as engineering, humanities, social sciences, and management. The research team comprises more than 20 faculty members and 50 students, supported by medical professionals, consultants, photographers, and graphic designers. Each subgroup is led by domain experts to ensure a thorough and precise review. Civil engineers are scrutinising the civil infrastructure, electrical engineers are examining the electrical and communication systems, healthcare professionals are assessing the medical facilities, computer scientists are focusing on cybersecurity, and economists are evaluating the economic impact of the event. Meanwhile, sociologists and cultural studies scholars are exploring the cultural significance of the Mahakumbh and the lived experiences of its participants.

To provide a thorough review, IIT Kanpur is collecting data through various channels, including field observations, site surveys, interviews, and secondary data provided by the PMA. This meticulous data collection process ensures that all facets of the event are covered comprehensively. The analysis will culminate in a detailed report that documents the event’s achievements and challenges, offering well-founded recommendations for enhancing future iterations of Kumbh melas.

In addition to compiling the review report, IIT Kanpur is organizing a series of ten conferences and seminars to facilitate deeper discussions on the various aspects of the Mahakumbh. These sessions will address a broad array of topics, such as the roles of traditional religious orders like the Akharas, environmental conservation efforts, sanitation, infrastructure development, the economic impact of the Mahakumbh, and the integration of digital technologies as part of the Digital Kumbh initiative. Other seminars will explore critical issues such as policing, disaster management, branding, health services, and tourism operations, contributing to a holistic understanding of the event’s multifaceted nature.

The Mahakumbh has long attracted the interest of global academic institutions. In 2013, Harvard University conducted a study focused on urban planning, while the London School of Economics and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore concentrated on administrative and management strategies during the 2019 Kumbh. IIT Kanpur’s review aims to build upon these prior findings, providing a unified and comprehensive analysis that captures all aspects of Mahakumbh 2025. By incorporating a broad spectrum of themes, the report will highlight successful practices and identify areas for improvement, thus contributing to the global discourse on managing large-scale cultural events.

The Mahakumbh 2025 at Prayagraj epitomises the fusion of India’s deep spiritual and cultural heritage with modern organisational practices. This event not only celebrates the spiritual beliefs and cultural traditions of millions but also serves as a testament to India’s capability to manage events of such an enormous scale with efficiency and innovation. IIT Kanpur’s role in reviewing this monumental event underscores the importance of systematic documentation and analysis in managing such large-scale events.

Through its comprehensive review report, IIT Kanpur aims to provide crucial insights that will shape the ways in which Kumbh melas and other such religious gatherings are organised in India. This effort will help solidify the event’s status as one of the world’s most significant cultural gatherings. The findings from this review will not only enrich the understanding of the Mahakumbh but will also offer practical recommendations for improving its management in future editions. Ultimately, the insights gathered by IIT Kanpur will contribute to enhancing the experience for millions of participants and ensure that the Kumbh mela continues to be a significant event in India’s spiritual and cultural landscape.