Cities, Rivers, and Pilgrims: Cultural Celebrations, Environmental Struggles, and Water Governance at the MahaKumbha Mela

Abstract (English)

The Kumbha Mela, India’s largest religious bathing festival, epitomises the interplay between urban environments and cultural dynamics. Millions of pilgrims congregate in urban centers along rivers, such as the Ganga, Yamuna, and Shipra, transforming cities into spiritual and cultural hubs. While the festival revitalises local economies and cultural identity, it also places significant pressure on urban infrastructure, including sanitation, transportation, and waste management systems. Temporary urban adaptations, such as the popping up of tent cities, illustrate the responsiveness of urban environments to cultural phenomena, but highlight challenges in maintaining sustainability and environmental health, especially concerning urban rivers.
Moreover, weak environmental governance exacerbates the strain on fragile ecosystems, with inadequate waste management polluting rivers already burdened by urban neglect.

The paper examines the recently held Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, to highlight the importance of integrating sustainability into urban responses to significant cultural events. This religious event embodies cultural dynamism and the urgent need for sustainable urban planning. It also addresses the systemic weaknesses in water governance to ensure the coexistence of heritage and modernity.