Daily Editorial

Every few years, a sprawling temporary city is conjured on the banks of the Ganga in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, complete with roads, toilets, pontoon bridges and tents, to host millions of pilgrims — only to vanish within weeks.

The Maha Kumbh, hailed as the “largest gathering of humanity on Earth”, is set to commence on January 13 in Prayagraj, with an anticipated turnout of 40 crore devotees. Backed by an estimated budget of nearly Rs 7,000 crore, the Uttar Pradesh government is racing to complete preparations for the event, delayed significantly due to the Ganga’s unseasonal reluctance to recede.