The 45-day Maha Kumbh at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj has concluded, leaving behind staggering numbers and a mixed legacy. The estimates of pilgrims who took a dip in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati range anywhere from 16 crore to an astonishing 66 crore. No one knows the actual figure, but there is little doubt that it has set a record that no other event anywhere in the world can match.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has every reason to celebrate the successful organisation of the event, which culminated on Mahashivaratri. However, his comparison of Maha Kumbh attendance with the numbers of Hajj pilgrims and Vatican visitors was both unwarranted and, frankly, in poor taste.

For instance, Yogi claimed that only 1.6 crore Muslims undertake the Hajj pilgrimage annually and only 80 lakh people visit the Vatican. But these comparisons are misleading. Saudi Arabia, which oversees Hajj actively limits the number of pilgrims to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims, but only if they can afford it, unlike Maha Kumbh, where people were encouraged to participate regardless of their means.

Similarly, the Vatican is more of a cultural and historical site than a strict pilgrimage destination. The annual 80 lakh visitors include not just Christians but also tourists of all faiths. To compare it with Maha Kumbh, which has deep spiritual significance for Hindus, is to equate apples with oranges.

Unlike Saudi Arabia, which seeks to regulate the Hajj numbers, the Uttar Pradesh government appeared eager to maximise attendance, as if setting a record was the primary goal. The government actively exhorted people to take the sacred dip, reinforcing the idea that the event was a unique opportunity to wash away sins.

The administration’s enthusiasm was evident in its grand gestures, such as the use of helicopters to shower 20 quintals of rose petals on the final day’s crowd. While such displays make for good optics, they raise questions about priorities. A government’s role is to ensure crowd management, hygiene, and safety, not to indulge in theatrics.

Despite the scale of arrangements, the event was not without its flaws. Reports of stampedes were either ignored or downplayed by the authorities. The Chief Minister’s claim that the Ganga water was fit for drinking, even as reports surfaced about pollution and human impurities, was equally troubling.

Leadership demands responsibility, not denial. While it may be considered sacrilegious to suggest limits on the Maha Kumbh attendance, responsible crowd management is necessary. Pilgrimage centres like Tirupati have long implemented stricter controls for the safety of devotees. Faith must be facilitated, not exploited for records or political mileage. Let faith flourish and let politics stay out of it.