The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, has always been a test of governance, efficiency, and, in some cases, sheer incompetence. While the 2013 Maha Kumbh, orchestrated under the ever-so-dynamic (read: clueless) leadership of Akhilesh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party (SP), was a shining example of how not to manage an event, the 2025 Maha Kumbh, under the BJP’s Yogi Adityanath, has been a masterclass in organization, planning, and modern governance. Let’s take a look at how these two events compare and why 2013 was essentially a tragicomedy in administrative failure.

Picture this: It’s 2025, and instead of meticulous planning, you have the Samajwadi Party at the helm, ensuring that history repeats itself in the most embarrassing way possible. The first sign of trouble? 12 crore people expected, 58 crore actually arrive, and the government’s response is to shrug and call for divine intervention. Who needs proper infrastructure when faith can fill the gaps?

Next, let’s talk about investment. Instead of the \₹6,500 crore investment** that the actual 2025 Maha Kumbh received, under SP rule, it would likely be a ‘generous’ ₹1,300 crore, most of which would mysteriously disappear into ghost projects and political appeasement schemes. Expect crumbling makeshift shelters, flooded tent cities, and VIP enclosures that actually work (for politicians, not the public).

Sanitation? Overflowing toilets would be the defining feature. In 2013, there were 35,000 toilets, barely functional. In 2025, if the SP were in charge, you’d probably get the same number—after all, why fix what isn’t broken (or actually is)? Forget 150,000 modern portable toilets, because let’s be honest, the budget for that would’ve been diverted elsewhere.

Security? In 2013, the Samajwadi Party’s approach to security was woefully inadequate, relying more on wishful thinking than concrete planning. The daily footfall in 2013 hovered around 20 lakh people on average, peaking at over 3 crore on Mauni Amavasya, the same day that saw a deadly stampede at the Allahabad railway station, killing 36 people. Compare that to 2025, where the daily footfall has reached 1.3 crore on average, with over 9 crore on peak days, yet effective security and crowd control have largely prevented similar disasters—though not entirely.

Despite substantial improvements, a stampede on January 29, 2025, near Triveni Sangam tragically resulted in 30 fatalities and over 60 injuries, demonstrating that even with advanced security measures, managing such colossal gatherings remains an immense challenge. However, the 383% increase in total attendance and 200% rise in peak day footfall make it evident that, despite these tragic incidents, the scale of the disaster has been significantly mitigated compared to 2013.

Unlike the complete chaos of 2013, where authorities were caught off guard and unable to handle the crisis effectively, 2025’s rapid response teams, advanced surveillance, and structured crowd control prevented a catastrophe of a much larger magnitude. The stark contrast between the two events underscores the evolution from haphazard crisis management to a structured, forward-thinking strategy that, while not flawless, represents a marked improvement over the failures of 2013. 

And did we forget to mention the rampant cases of eve-teasing, theft, and crimes against women during the 2013 Maha Kumbh? Reports of harassment, missing persons, and petty crimes were disturbingly common, exacerbated by the sheer lack of security measures. The inadequate policing and absence of surveillance mechanisms created an unsafe environment, particularly for women pilgrims, turning what should have been a spiritual experience into an ordeal for many. The administration’s dismissive attitude toward such incidents further compounded the problem, highlighting a glaring failure in governance and accountability.

The 2025 event features 50,000 trained personnel, AI-powered cameras, and drone surveillance, ensuring that such chaos doesn’t spiral out of control. The tragic stampede that killed 36 people at the railway station in 2013 was proof that no one had actually planned for a crowd of that scale. If SP were in charge in 2025, we’d probably be relying on volunteer lathi-wielding party workers instead of 50,000 trained personnel, AI-powered cameras, and drone surveillance.

And let’s not forget crowd management! In 2013, 14 floating bridges were expected to handle the rush. The 2025 Maha Kumbh, under competent leadership, has 30 floating bridges and three floating police stations to maintain order. If Akhilesh Yadav’s team were handling this, we’d be lucky to get rickety bamboo bridges and security officers who are ‘on break’ when a crisis hits.

The economic impact under a Samajwadi-led 2025 Kumbh would be… wait, what economic impact? While the actual 2025 event is generating \₹2.5–3 lakh crore in revenue, under SP, it would likely be an unaccounted mess, with officials claiming “development is happening” while business owners count their losses.

Had the Samajwadi Party been in charge of 2025’s Maha Kumbh, it would be remembered as a festival of missed opportunities, gross mismanagement, and empty promises. The SP’s governance model—make flashy announcements, deliver nothing substantial, and blame the opposition—would have ensured that pilgrims experienced divine chaos rather than divine blessings. In fact, it would have served as a beacon to the world, proudly showcasing India’s poverty, lack of infrastructure, and inept governance. It would have been a global exhibition of what happens when illogical, irrational, illiterate, and superstitious Hindus gather in mass numbers, reinforcing every negative stereotype that exists about the country.

If the 2013 Maha Kumbh was a disaster, it was because it was managed by a government more invested in optics than actual governance. Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure was riddled with mismanagement, and the Kumbh became the perfect example of how administrative neglect can turn a grand event into a global embarrassment.*. Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure was riddled with mismanagement, and the Kumbh became a prime example of his administration’s failures.

In stark contrast, the 2025 Maha Kumbh stands as a case study in administrative excellence—an event that proves how meticulous planning, technological integration, and strong leadership can elevate even the most challenging logistical endeavors to global standards. It is not just a redemption story—it is a testament to what is possible when governance is driven by accountability and foresight.*. Yogi Adityanath’s government has not just learned from past mistakes but has elevated the festival to a world-class event.

Perhaps that is why Akhilesh Yadav and his party seem so eager to downplay this Maha Kumbh—because its success is a glaring reminder of their failures.

Thank you for reading!

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