Religious gatherings in India

India, being a country of diverse religions and spiritual traditions, hosts some of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Here are the top religious events in India that see the maximum turnout:

1. Kumbh Mela (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Haryana)

  • Attendance: Up to 120 million (in the case of the 2021 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, even amidst the pandemic).
  • Description: Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage and festival where millions gather at the banks of holy rivers (Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, etc.) to bathe in the waters, believed to cleanse them of sins. This mela, which occurs every 12 years at each of the four locations (Haridwar, Allahabad/Prayagraj, Nashik, and Ujjain), has earned a spot in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list due to its scale and religious significance .

2. Mahashivaratri at Somnath Temple (Gujarat)

  • Attendance: Over 1 million people.
  • Description: This annual event, dedicated to Lord Shiva, attracts millions of devotees to Somnath Temple and other temples across India. The temple, considered one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, sees huge crowds offering prayers, performing rituals, and engaging in night-long vigils .

3. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) – Annual Venkateswara Festival (Andhra Pradesh)

  • Attendance: Over 50 million annually.
  • Description: The temple of Lord Venkateswara in Tirupati is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. On any given day, it receives thousands of pilgrims, and during festivals such as Brahmotsavam, this number spikes significantly. The temple's crowds can often reach 100,000 to 200,000 people per day during these festivals .

4. Holi Festival (Nationwide)

  • Attendance: In large cities like Mathura and Vrindavan, crowds can exceed 1 million.
  • Description: Holi, the Festival of Colors, celebrates the arrival of spring. It is celebrated with immense enthusiasm, particularly in places associated with Lord Krishna, such as Vrindavan, Mathura, and Barsana in Uttar Pradesh. The festival sees large gatherings of people, often crossing a million in some locations .

5. Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha (Nationwide)

  • Attendance: Varies by city, with major congregations like Delhi, Lucknow, and Hyderabad hosting over 100,000 people.
  • Description: These major Islamic festivals are celebrated with mass prayers, feasts, and social gatherings. The congregational prayers at mosques, particularly at Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Lucknow’s Aishbagh Eidgah, attract millions of people annually .

6. Durga Puja (West Bengal)

  • Attendance: In Kolkata, crowds exceed 4 million during the festival.
  • Description: Durga Puja is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals, particularly in West Bengal. In Kolkata, it is a huge cultural and religious event, with millions of people visiting the decorated pandals, offering prayers, and participating in celebrations. The crowds during the immersion processions on the last day of the festival can be massive .

7. Navaratri at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Statue (Statue of Unity) (Gujarat)

  • Attendance: Over 1 million visitors during Navaratri.
  • Description: Navaratri is a nine-night festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is celebrated with great zeal in Gujarat, and the Statue of Unity in Sardar Patel's hometown of Kevadia attracts large crowds during these events, including traditional Garba dance celebrations .

These gatherings not only highlight India's immense religious diversity but also its cultural vibrancy, drawing millions of people from around the country and the world. The large-scale attendance at these festivals is a testimony to the deep spiritual engagement and community participation prevalent in the country.

 

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