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Kumbh Mela 2025: The ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign aims to mobilise every household in the cleanliness drive, while facility slips provided to devotees include tips on avoiding plastic.
Kumbh Mela 2025: Water pollution is a major concern, particularly in the rivers, which will face contamination from waste and religious offerings. (Image: Shutterstock)
The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest and most significant religious gatherings in the world, is held every 12 years. This year, the Mela will be held Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26, 2025. The sacred ritual of bathing in the rivers during the Mela is believed to cleanse sins and rejuvenate a person spiritually.
Significance of Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela holds immense cultural and spiritual significance, drawing millions of devotees seeking blessings and purification through immersion in the holy waters. The event also features religious discourses, cultural performances and processions, symbolising India’s rich religious and cultural heritage.
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The festival’s origins trace back to Hindu mythology, specifically the tale of the gods and demons vying for a pot of nectar (amrit).
According to legend, the locations where drops of the nectar fell became the sites of the Kumbh Mela. The event attracts a range of participants, including ascetics, sadhus and spiritual seekers, adding to the spiritual atmosphere.
Environmental challenges of the Kumbh Mela
While the Kumbh Mela is a monumental spiritual event, its large scale poses significant environmental challenges.
- One pressing issue is waste management, as the gathering generates vast quantities of trash, including non-biodegradable materials such as plastics.
- Water pollution is another major concern, particularly in the rivers, which will face contamination from waste and religious offerings.
- Air pollution is exacerbated by heavy traffic, the use of diesel generators and burning of offerings, while deforestation occurs as temporary infrastructure and camps are constructed.
- Noise pollution from loudspeakers and religious chants also impacts both human health and local wildlife.
Efforts are underway to address these issues, including waste segregation, promotion of eco-friendly transportation and the use of biodegradable materials. Initiatives such as wastewater treatment plants and sustainable water management aim to minimise river pollution.
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These measures strive to balance environmental responsibility with the festival’s cultural and spiritual importance.
Measures for a sustainable Kumbh Mela
To make the Kumbh Mela more sustainable, Sangam city authorities have introduced several forward-thinking initiatives, including a complete ban on single-use plastics within the mela grounds.
Instead, eco-friendly alternatives like dona-pattal and kulhars are being promoted through dedicated stalls.
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To encourage a plastic-free Maha Kumbh, a special meeting was held with the principals of 400 schools, during which students were appointed as cleanliness ambassadors.
Over 1,500 Ganga Sevadoots are being trained to lead sanitation efforts, and their numbers will be expanded as needed.
The ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign aims to mobilise every household in the cleanliness drive, while facility slips provided to devotees include tips on avoiding plastic.
These combined efforts show a strong commitment to making the Kumbh Mela both environmentally sustainable and spiritually enriching.
- Location :
Prayagraj, India
