The sprawling sands at the Sangam in Prayagraj have been transformed into an extraordinary tent city in preparation for the Maha Kumbh 2025. Designed to accommodate over 20 lakh devotees at a time, the tent city features more than one lakh tents ranging from basic shelters to luxurious accommodations, making it a marvel of engineering and tradition.
Monumental Scale and Resources
This year’s setup includes staggering figures:
- 68 lakh wooden poles with a cumulative length of over 20,726 kilometers (exceeding the distance between Prayagraj and Washington, DC).
- 100 kilometers of fabric and 250 tonnes of CGI sheets for roofing.
- 3,000 workers working in three shifts over several months have meticulously assembled these structures.
Vishwakarma of Kumbh
The monumental responsibility of building this tent city largely rests with Lalluji and Sons, a company renowned for Kumbh Mela preparations for over a century. Known as the “Vishwakarma of Kumbh,” the company has built approximately 75% of this year’s tent city.
Deepanshu Agarwal, Managing Partner of Lalluji and Sons, highlighted the immense effort behind the endeavor. Preparations began 18 months ago, involving the construction of new tents, repair and refurbishment of old infrastructure, and meticulous planning to ensure the seamless accommodation of millions of devotees.
With the Mahakumbh Mela set to begin on January 13, 2025, this remarkable tent city stands as a testament to human ingenuity and dedication to preserving cultural and spiritual traditions on a massive scale.
