Getting lost at Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest festival
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Commuters moving past as health workers fumigate at the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna, during the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India, on Sunday. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to attend the festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and comes around every 12 years. This year's most auspicious day for the festival is Feb 10. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu holy man walks as health workers fumigate at the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna during the Mahakumbh festival in Allahabad, India, on Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AP
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Hindu monk Surendra Muni, 23, of the Hindu sect Sri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara at Sangam, stands at the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna during the Mahakumbh festival in Allahabad, India, on Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AP
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An Indian Hindu Sadhu plays a traditional snake-shaped musical instrument at his camp during the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad on Feb 3, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AP
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An Indian artist gives final touches to an idol of Hindu God Shiva at the Akhara Pandal during the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad on Feb 3, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AFP
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An Indian Hindu devotee listens to spiritual leader Swami Sri Adgadanand Maharaj (unseen) at Paramhans Ashram in Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati during Mahakumbh festival in Allahabad, India, on Saturday, Feb 2, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AP
Commuters moving past as health workers fumigate at the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna, during the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad, India, on Sunday. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to attend the festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and comes around every 12 years. This year's most auspicious day for the festival is Feb 10. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu holy man walks as health workers fumigate at the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna during the Mahakumbh festival in Allahabad, India, on Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AP
Hindu monk Surendra Muni, 23, of the Hindu sect Sri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara at Sangam, stands at the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna during the Mahakumbh festival in Allahabad, India, on Sunday, Feb 3, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AP
An Indian Hindu Sadhu plays a traditional snake-shaped musical instrument at his camp during the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad on Feb 3, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AP
An Indian artist gives final touches to an idol of Hindu God Shiva at the Akhara Pandal during the Maha Kumbh festival in Allahabad on Feb 3, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AFP
An Indian Hindu devotee listens to spiritual leader Swami Sri Adgadanand Maharaj (unseen) at Paramhans Ashram in Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati during Mahakumbh festival in Allahabad, India, on Saturday, Feb 2, 2013. The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying. -- PHOTO: AP
ALLAHABAD (AFP) - The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's biggest religious festival, is meant to be spiritually uplifting. But for the thousands who get lost in the swell of humanity, the experience can be terrifying.
The festival takes place on a sprawling site in northern India next to the river Ganges where as many as 20 million people are expected to cram in on the most auspicious day on Feb 10 for a bath said to cleanse them of their sins.
It's a dusty and crowded temporary city made up of tented accommodation, areas reserved for godmen and gurus, miles upon miles of walkways and vast open areas where pilgrims push and shove their way to the banks of the Ganges.
Dealing with the packed crowds is a constant problem and although mobile phones have helped to re-unite divided groups or families, the young, elderly and poor are still vulnerable when lost.
