Apr 16, 2025 06:51 IST First published on: Apr 16, 2025 at 06:51 IST Share Prayagraj hosted more than 60 crore pilgrims and visitors over a span of 45 days during the Maha Kumbh, according to the estimates of the Uttar Pradesh government. The world has witnessed the religious and spiritual fervour that moved the entire nation while it celebrated its reverence for the river goddess Ganga. Yet, the event is fundamentally a manifestation of a profound and deep-seated river-society relationship. Cultural gatherings such as the Maha Kumbh are known to happen along rivers and water bodies. Can we leverage this relationship for the enduring rejuvenation of rivers and water bodies? The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj takes place along a stretch of about 20 km and in an area of 40 square km around the sangam of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The river bed and surrounding area are transformed into a temporary settlement to receive the pilgrims and visitors. A Harvard University study called it an “ephemeral mega-city”. Built in just …