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The ‘Bhule-Bhatke Kendra’ will not only allow officials to match pictures of the missing person with their social media accounts but will also help in translating various languages into Hindi and English for easier communication.
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 promises to blend tradition with modernity, incorporating advanced technology to ensure convenience for attendees. (Image: PTI)
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, is all set to begin in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj in just two days.
Anticipating the arrival of millions of devotees, the state government, in collaboration with police and local authorities, is pulling out all the stops to enhance the pilgrim experience. This year’s event promises to blend tradition with modernity, incorporating advanced technology to ensure convenience and efficiency for attendees.
Several technological upgrades have been introduced for maha kumbh mela, including digital lost-and-found centres, CCTVs, LED displays, advanced AI-driven data analytics solutions systems and more to enhance surveillance. “The maha kumbh is the confluence of tradition and technology, history and modern avenues,” said a senior official as per The Print.
The official added that around 1,500 CCTV cameras have been installed across the floor of the 4,000-hectare mela area, stating that these cameras will be integrated with the control and command unit to instantly alert teams.
Another crucial technological intervention includes the introduction of digital lost and found centres, named Bhule-Bhatake Kendras, which have been set up to locate any missing person at the festival.
The centres are being powered by Artificial Intelligence which will not only allow officials to match the pictures of the missing person with their social media accounts but will also help in translating various languages into Hindi and English for easier communication.
“For the lost people and children, a designated area has been set up with basic amenities of bed where they can wait till they reconnect with their families,” the official said.
A total of 12 such centres have been set up and are all connected to LED display screens, which will display the missing visitor or devotee once they are traced. “We have experimented with this and it has provided good results. No longer brothers will be separated in the Kumbh. We have the technology to bring them back,” the official added.
Getting Lost In Kumbh Mela Is Common
Over the years, there have been many stories and incidents when people have got lost or separated from their relatives at the massive fair. Many even keep paper slips with their names and addresses scribbled so that others can help them if they get lost during kumbh mela.
In Prayagraj, an organization named Bharat Seva Dal has been working for years to reunite the missing people with their families. Be it Maha Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh or Magh Mela, the organisation is active on all big events.
According to a News18 Hindi report, the lost-and-found camp has been running since 1946 when Raja Ram Tiwari had started it. Since then, his group has been helping missing people for free. After Raja Ram Tiwari passed away in 2016, his son Umesh Tiwari took over. This camp for lost people is located on Triveni Marg.
Many Firsts Of Maha Kumbh 2025
In a first, the administration has introduced four anti-drone systems to intercept unwanted and illegal drones flying over the premises, followed by underwater drones to ensure the safety of devotees through surveillance beneath the waters.
Starting on January 13, the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is expecting a crowd of at least 40 crore people in the city of Prayagraj along the river bank. It will conclude on February 26, 2025.
- Location :
Prayagraj, India
