The Uttar Pradesh government of Yogi Adityanath has set up a three-member judicial committee headed by retired judge of the Allahabad High Court Justice Harsh Kumar, to inquire into the stampede incident in Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj on 29 January 2025.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Government, 30 people were killed and 60 were injured in the pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh as millions of people rushed to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya (new moon day) on 29 January 2025.
The three-member Inquiry Committee consists of Justice (retd.) Harsh Kumar, former Director General of Police V K Gupta, and retired IAS officer D K Singh.
The commission will examine the cause and circumstances that led to the stampede and will recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The commission has to submit its report to the Uttar Pradesh government within one month.
Kumbh Mela refers to the congregation of millions of people from India and foreign countries to take a dip in the holy rivers of India- Ganga, Godavari, and Shipra. It is the largest congregation of human beings on the earth.
Kumbh is held in four cities of India by rotation -Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) on the banks of River Ganga, then Haridwar (Uttrakhand) on the banks of River Ganga, Nashik (Maharashtra) along River Nashik and Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) on River Shipra.
Kumbh Mela is held at these places due to its religious importance in Hinduism.
According to Puranas, Devtas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the Ksheer Sagar, in which Lord Dhanvantari (physician of Gods) emerged with a pot of Amrit (nectar). Four drops of the nectar dropped on earth at - Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain - when Lord Vishnu on Garuda flew away with the pot.
People believe that taking a dip in these four places during Kumbh will wash away their sins.
The Kumbh is celebrated four times every 12 years at these four sites in rotation depending upon the astrological position of Jupiter planet.
The Kumbh melas is held according to astrological calculations and follows the movement of Jupiter. Jupiter takes around 12 years to complete a revolution of the Sun. Hence, it is held after 12 years.
Ardh Kumbh is held every six years at Prayagraj and Haridwar only.
Maha Kumbh is held every 144 years. This year's Kumbh at Prayagraj is a Maha Kumbh.
Kumbh in Sanskrit means pitcher or kalash.
The 2025 Kumbh Mela will be held from 13 January to 26 February.
Next Kumbh will take place in Nashik in 2027, Ujjain in 2028, and Ardh Kumbh in Prayagraj in 2030.