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The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj began on January 13 and will run until Maha Shivratri on February 26.
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj as seen from space at night. (Image: X/@astro_pettit)
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, which returned to Prayagraj after 144 years, has drawn devotees from across the globe, with photos and videos flooding social media. From the sacred “Amrit Snan” (a holy dip) at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati to seek moksha (salvation) and cleanse sins, to devotees seeking blessings from sadhus, visuals from this spiritual gathering emerge online almost daily. But have you ever wondered how the Maha Kumbh Mela looks from space?
NASA astronaut Donald Pettit, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has captured stunning images of the “world’s largest human gathering” from space. The 69-year-old is part of the Expedition 72 crew.
“2025 Maha Kumbh Mela Ganges River pilgrimage from the ISS at night. The largest human gathering in the world is well-lit,” wrote Pettit on X. Alongside, he shared two stunning pictures taken from the space at night.
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The pictures show the city shining bright at night.
While reacting to the stunning pictures, an individual wrote, “Absolutely mesmerizing. Thank you for taking this amazing picture. That ‘tiny’ area will host 400 million pilgrims 6 weeks. ~70 million will take a dip on 29th Jan! A white smudge on the pale blue dot with a sea of humanity.”
Another added, “The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela at the Ganges River, seen from the International Space Station at night, showcases the immense scale of this religious pilgrimage. The gathering, known as the world’s largest human assembly, appears strikingly illuminated from space.”
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“Thank you for sharing the amazing space view of our one of the most important Hindu festival which comes after every 144 years,” expressed a third.
Someone else joined in, “There are literally millions of people in this photo, for an event that has not happened in 144 years. Taken from the ISS for the first time in history. Remarkable,” adding that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to see” the pictures.
“Thanks for sharing. View from right above the place would have been spectacular,” posted yet another social media user.
