The Mahakumbh 2025 is expected to attract 40 crore devotees. Learn how AI cameras, drones, and mobile tracking are used for crowd counting and management at the festival.
Mahakumbh Mela 2025: The Mahakumbh Mela is the world’s largest religious and cultural gathering, held every 12 years across four locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The Mahakumbh 2025, which began on January 13th and will run until February 26th, draws devotees from India and around the world to bathe in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
Large number of devotees
This year, the Mahakumbh is expected to attract around 40 crore people. In just the first four days, approximately 7 crore devotees attended the event. Managing such vast numbers of pilgrims and ensuring safety in such a large-scale gathering is an enormous challenge. Let’s explore how this monumental task is being carried out.
How are the pilgrims being counted?
The Mahakumbh Mela administration has deployed over 1,800 cameras across the premises, many of which are equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. These cameras monitor crowd density and are strategically positioned at entry and exit points, along pathways, and at the ghats. Additionally, drone cameras provide aerial views of the entire area. The images and videos captured by these cameras are sent to a central evaluation team, which analyzes the data to provide an accurate estimate of the crowd size.
Real-time data and control center
A central control center has been established at the fairgrounds to manage the crowd effectively. Police officers and technical experts stationed at the center monitor real-time data from AI-powered algorithms. If any area experiences unusual crowd congestion, alerts are triggered immediately. This system plays a crucial role in preventing potential accidents and ensuring the safety of all attendees.
360-degree AI cameras
AI-equipped 360-degree cameras play a vital role in accurately assessing crowd density. A total of 1,100 permanent cameras and 744 temporary cameras have been installed across the premises to capture data from the entire fairground. Additionally, drone cameras offer aerial views, providing further insights that aid in more precise crowd estimation.
Use of mobile applications
The Mahakumbh Mela administration has also leveraged mobile applications to assist in counting pilgrims. By tracking the number of active mobile phones within the fairgrounds, the authorities can estimate the crowd size. This method not only simplifies the process of counting but also helps in taking timely precautions if crowd density increases in any area, ensuring better safety management.
Last Updated Jan 20, 2025, 11:16 AM IST