Author: Nitish Parwani
In 2025 Prayag, a city that dates back thousands of years, hosted the Maha Kumbha Mela, which has concluded, leaving behind a historic testament to faith, logistical prowess, and the sheer power of collective participation. The occasion was tipped to be monumental in scale. What transpired seems to have exceeded all expectations and redefined the scale of human convergence. With reports indicating that over 660 million pilgrims attended across the 45-day gathering, the initial estimate of 400 million, a gargantuan number in and of itself, was dwarfed. This staggering figure indicates the immense pull of an ancient tradition. Hindus from across the world of all ages, castes, class, creed, and race merged into one confluence of humanity. Coupled with this are the logistical challenges that were successfully navigated in bringing together such vast numbers of diverse people from across the world.
A ₹63.82 billion (roughly US$740 million) budget is nothing to sneeze at for a country like India, which has so many other commitments and priorities: combating poverty on the one hand and satisfying the 21st century ambitions of its 500 million middle class on the other. But Indian culture has always been a blend of religiosity and mercantilism, and the Kumbha was no different. The Kumbha generated approximately ₹ 3 trillion (US$35 billion) in economic activity, representing a 47x Return on Investment. However, reducing the Kumbha to mere economic arithmetic would be to misconstrue the occasion, and run against the spirit of which it stands for. The gathering has a profound spiritual significance for pilgrims; and beyond this, it has also provided a critical case study in social capital, large-scale volunteerism, and the management of a temporary city of unimaginable proportions.
Central to the Kumbha experience was to witness the enduring spirit of seva, or selfless service. On 29th January, for instance, nearly 100 million people were present in the city. Yet, amidst this sea of humanity, in a country with 400 million citizens who live below the poverty line, not one person apparently went hungry. Food was available for all, not as a commodity to be bought, but as a selfless offering. Massive community kitchens sprang up across the Mela grounds, throughout the Mela period, offering fine delicacies and beverages to one and all. There were no price tags, no transactions, and no expectations. In fact, any attempt to offer money in return was met with a firm refusal, and sometimes even disapproval. The spirit that fuelled these mammoth kitchens was seva, where feeding another was an act of devotion, a way to serve the divine present in each pilgrim.
The spirit of voluntary service extended beyond food. Teams of medics from across the country arrived to offer free medical aid. Organisations like the ‘National Medico Organisation’ set up free health camps, while initiatives like ‘Netra Kumbha’ provide eye check-ups and cataract surgeries at no cost. Numerous ashrams and organisations established free medical camps, reinforcing the idea that healthcare, like food, should be available to all, irrespective of status or wealth.
A unique economic model sustained the operations of this large scale without direct financial transactions, making Kumbha-Mela a case study for economists. Reserving that discussion for another article, this piece focuses on another currency: social capital. As thinkers like Pierre Bourdieu (1986) and Robert Putnam (2000) have discussed, social capital is the foundation upon which communities thrive. It is the trust, the networks, and the shared values that bind people together and enable cooperation beyond personal or material gain. India’s enduring civilisation owes much to this invisible wealth.
The Kumbha Mela is a living laboratory for studying ‘social capital’ and seva. The 2025 event, with its record-breaking attendance, provided a critical test of this concept. The volunteering activities and the ‘infrastructure of goodwill’ complemented the state’s efforts, proving that formal governance alone cannot sustain a society—people’s willingness to give and serve is just as crucial. The successful deployment of police and security forces, alongside tens of thousands of sanitation workers and countless volunteers, demonstrated the power of coordinated action. The achievement of multiple Guinness World Records, including the largest simultaneous river clean-up and the highest number of volunteers participating in a single-site cleanliness drive, testified the collective commitment to a shared goal.
At the Kumbha, the barriers of class, caste, and status were eclipsed by social capital. A rickshaw puller, who earns his livelihood on daily wages, can be seen distributing food alongside a wealthy jeweller. An IT professional was washing dishes next to students like many of those in our group from Oxford, who saved for months just to attend the Mela. In these acts of service, the distinctions seemed to fade. However, despite the powerful spirit of equality demonstrated by the volunteers, there were few occasions where the presence of VIP movements seemed to dilute this. Special enclosures and privileges for certain groups stood in contrast to the overarching ethos of the Mela, momentarily disrupting the otherwise seamless breaking of class barriers.
The Kumbha also defied the common perception of discrimination based on caste or class in India. Pilgrims took a dip in the sacred waters together, served side by side in voluntary activities, and ate from the same community kitchens, breaking long-held social barriers. No one asked about caste or economic background when offering or receiving food, medical aid, or other services. The Mela created a space where the human identity transcends constructed divisions, reaffirming the idea that collective well-being is greater than individual differences.
The 2025 Maha Kumbha Mela has concluded, but its legacy will endure. It has demonstrated the remarkable capacity of human organisation, the enduring power of faith, and the transformative potential of social capital.
