Pilgrimage Itineraries Dimensions With Focus on Kumbh Mela 2019, Prayagraj, India

Introduction

The characteristics of religious pilgrims are evolving into a more complex and diversified group, which might have an impact on the creation of new travel opportunities and economic advantages as well as pose difficulties for the administration of pilgrimage sites (Liro, 2023). The Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of people ever in the world at a given time (Baranwal et al., 2015). During the Mela season, pedestrian movements are huge in the form of crowds. Efficient management of people's movement, crowd regulation on peak days, guaranteeing the well-being of pilgrims and efficient crowd regulation planning should be the primary areas of attention. The occurrence of extensive human gatherings, such as large-scale entertainment events, religious assemblies, sports competitions, political protests, product endorsements, etc., has become increasingly frequent. The preservation of human security, safety, and regulation has become crucial and demanding (Gayathri et al., 2017).During the Kumbh Mela, individuals on a religious journey immerses themselves in the sacred river. The crowd of pilgrims taking bath in river during Kumbh Mela is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

The pilgrims taking bath in river during Kumbh Mela

(Source: Prayagraj Mela Authority Report)

Devotees hold the belief that by partaking in this act, they are absolved of their wrongdoings and liberated from the continuous cycle of life and death. A multitude of people attend without invitation. Participants include ascetics, holy individuals, hermits, Kalpavasi (who reside throughout the duration of the Mela and lead a modest existence as shown in Figure 2), and visitors. The festival takes place in Prayagraj (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik on a rotational basis every four years, drawing in millions of individuals regardless of their social status, religious beliefs, or gender.

Figure 2.

The tents of kalpavasis during Kumbh Mela

(Source: Prayagraj Mela Authority Report)

This gathering encompasses aspects of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ceremonial traditions, and social and cultural customs, making it an incredibly enriching experience. Due to its occurrence in four different cities in India, the event showcases a diverse range of social and cultural activities, further enhancing its cultural significance. A large assembly occurs when a greater than specified quantity of individuals at a designated venue for a particular purpose come together for a predetermined duration (WHO Press, 2008). During a gathering, influenced by psychological and other significant factors, the quantity of individuals on foot starts to act in an unpredictable manner, making it difficult to control according to the standards of traffic engineering characteristics, and is referred to as a pedestrian crowd. The characteristics of the pilgrims also play a crucial role. Conventional challenges in ensuring the safety and security of pilgrims involve crowd management (regulation, directing, and redirection), planning and managing peak days, proactive disaster management planning, and effective response to all emergencies and disasters. A combination of high crowd density, limited access points, inadequate crowd regulation, and insufficient knowledge of the areas and activities can lead to disastrous situations such as a stampede (Soomaroo & Murray, 2012).Some of the biggest human gatherings include the Kumbh Mela, Hajj, and the Shia pilgrimage to Karbala (Gayathri et al., 2017). Makar Sankranti, Paush Purnima, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Maghi Purnima and Maha Shivratri are the six peak days during the Kumbh Mela. It also challenges security and surveillance strategies for people coming to the event, prioritizing the needs of pilgrims or participants. This requires a design thinking approach in which the needs of the consumer come first. It relies on observing, with empathy, how people interact with their environments and employs an iterative, hands-on approach to creating innovative solutions. Over the past two decades, there has been a noticeably rising trend of pilgrim immigration, as shown in Figure 3 (Kanaujiya & Tiwari, 2022a).