Maha Kumbh 2025 Recap: Record Attendance, Viral Sensations, and Tragic Stampedes

As the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj comes to an end today, February 26, with the final holy dip on Mahashivratri, the world’s biggest spiritual gathering is leaving behind more than just numbers, with faces like ‘Monalisa' and IIT 'Baba’ standing out in the overwhelming crowd of over 65 crore that made headlines along with some tragic moments like stampedes.

At the Kumbh mela, devotees from various Hindu sects, or ‘Akharas,’ take part in grand processions to perform the 'Shahi Snan' or royal bath in the sacred rivers at the mentioned sites. The spectacle draws millions of individuals, not just for the ritual, but also to see thousands of ascetics, mostly dressed in saffron, immersing themselves in the frigid waters.

The Maha Kumbh 2025 Mela in Prayagraj began on January 13, and since then, over 65 CR people have taken a dip at the Sangam, the meeting of rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, according to the Uttar Pradesh government. The total figure of attendees is expected to be released by the UP government later.

While a record-breaking 65 crore visitors attended the Maha Kumbh, people like garland seller ‘Monalisa,’ who became one of the internet sensation for her striking appearance, and the stampedes at the mela site and New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) which resulted in over 45 deaths made the grand fair a whirlwind of devotion, drama, viral moments, and unexpected events. 

Monalisa, IIT Baba | Kumbh's viral faces: Monalisa ‘Moni’ Bhosle, a 16-year-old garland seller from Madhya Pradesh, became an overnight sensation after videos of her, highlighting her striking appearance & eyes, were shared on the internet. Her sudden fame led to crowds chasing her for selfies, sparking both adoration and worry for her safety on social media. While some celebrated her rise, others debated the authenticity of rumours claiming she earned ₹10 crore in 10 days, which she later did not agree. 

Abhey Singh, dubbed ‘IIT Baba,’ who claimed to be a former aerospace engineer from IIT Bombay turned into a spiritual devotee of Lord Shiva, and gained massive traction on social media, with his articulate English and engaging interactions with journalists at the Mela standing out, inspiring conversations about the blend of science & spirituality. Posts on twitter praised his transformation, making him a viral figure of inspiration.

Stampedes: The Maha Kumbh Mela also saw major tragic incidents like stampedes and minor fires. Minimum 30 people were killed and 60 injured in the pre-dawn stampede near the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh in the early hours of January 29 as lakhs of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which is one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar.

In another tragic incident, at least 18 people lost their lives and more than a dozen injured in a stampede at the packed New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) on February 15, with railway officials said that the incident occurred after some passengers slipped and fell on others while coming down from a foot over bridge.

The stampede happened at a staircase near platform number 14 of NDLS. Platforms 8 to 16 normally handle all trains coming from or departing for eastern regions such as Prayagraj, Patna, Kanpur, Lucknow, Howrah etc. & due to Maha Kumbh, all these trains had been carrying a big load of passengers.

Fires: The Maha Kumbh has seen several major fire incidents, none of which led to severe injuries. The largest one among them took place on January 19, when a massive fire broke out in the Maha Kumbh Mela area's Sector 19 because of a cylinder blast.

While no casualties were reported, the blazing fire had left over a dozen camps gutted. On January 25, 2 cars caught fire in Sector 2 of the Maha Kumbh mela area. No casualties were reported in this particular incident. Short circuit in one car led to the fire which then repidly spread to the other vehicle parked next to it, according to senior officials.

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