After six long weeks, India’s Maha Kumbh Mela has wrapped up, drawing close to 650 million devotees in total. On the last day of the world’s largest religious gathering, additional forces were deployed along the river banks, as 13 million devotees were expected to take the customary dip at a point that marks the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati river. The government considers the event a huge success, even as the opposition raises questions over its management and a stampede that killed 30 people last month. Estimates suggest the Kumbh Mela has likely contributed more than $30 billion to India’s GDP. Ishan Garg reports.
