NOTE: For those concerned, I am safe – I was not at the Kumbh at the time of the stampede. Thanks for your concern.

Just weeks ago, I stood at the banks of the Sangam with my friends, wrapped in the soft riverine mist and the sheer immensity of faith around us. The Kumbh Mela is a spectacle like no other—a living, breathing river of devotion where millions come seeking peace, renewal, and a connection to something greater than themselves. We walked the sandy paths, marveled at the sheer scale of humanity moving as one, and felt the quiet pull of something ancient and sacred.

And yet, this week, that same river of faith turned into a scene of unimaginable heartbreak and tragedy at the kumbh. A stampede at the Kumbh has crushed lives, leaving behind grief where there should have been only devotion. My heart is heavy thinking of the very place where we stood, the same paths where we dawdled along happily talking to our friends, and greeting strangers is now trampled with the pain of chaos and loss. The very act of coming together, which makes the Kumbh so special, can also, in an instant, turn deadly.

The simple facts as reported – “On January 29, 2025, during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, a tragic stampede occurred in the early morning hours as pilgrims gathered for a sacred bath at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The incident resulted in at least 30 fatalities and numerous injuries.”

To those who have lost loved ones today, there are no words that can make this right. Only prayers.

• Prayers that the souls lost in the sacred waters find peace.
• Prayers for the families who now carry the weight of absence.
• Prayers that this sorrow does not go unanswered.

Lessons in Faith, and in Responsibility

The Kumbh Mela is a testament to devotion, but it is also a reminder of how deeply we must care for one another in such vast gatherings. Faith moves us, but it must also protect us. While millions seek spiritual cleansing, the need for safety, planning, and crowd management seemed to be addressed. In fact we remarked over and over again, how good the ‘bandobast’ was, how excellent the arrangements. And yet.

I remember walking through the throngs of pilgrims earlier this month, feeling nothing but wonder at how serene and joyful it was.  And yet. One misstep. One moment of panic. And suddenly, thousands are caught in something beyond control.

There is no easy answer in a place that draws millions, where belief itself fuels the journey, often against all odds. What happened? Where was the inflection point? We need to know. Without finger pointing and fault finding, We owe it to the souls lost, to the families grieving, and to the future pilgrims who will continue this sacred tradition.

A Call for Grace and Compassion

This is not just news. It is a wound in the collective heart of every pilgrim, every seeker, and every person who has ever walked the shores of faith. The Kumbh Mela is about connection, and today, that connection must extend beyond rituals—it must be in how we support those affected.

Let’s pause in our day to send a quiet thought, a whispered prayer, a moment of silence for those who set out on a pilgrimage and never returned home.

May the river carry their spirits gently.

May their families find strength.

And may we always be aware of the care we take of each other when we walk the same sacred paths.

The Bare Facts

WHEN – Between 1 am and 2 am (1930 – 2030 GMT Tuesday) as tens of millions gathered to take a ‘holy dip’ in the waters on the festival’s most auspicious day.

WHERE – Near the arena for sadhus on the ‘Akhada Marg’ (Arena Road) that is used by the ascetics to go in a procession to the river.

Conclusion

The Kumbh is not just an event. It is a mirror of who we are—our faith, our humanity, and the fragile beauty of coming together. Let’s honor that, today and always.