Impact of Mass Gathering Event on Water Quality of Holy Ganga River During Mahakumbh-2025 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The present study investigates the impact of mass bathing during Mahakumbh 2025 on the water quality of the River Ganga at two key sampling points Sangam and Daraganj in Prayagraj. Water samples were collected and analyzed before (January 8), during (January 13 to February 26), and after (February 28) the Mahakumbh event. Parameters including water temperature (WT), transparency, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total alkalinity (TA), total hardness (TH), chloride content, and electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored. The results revealed noticeable temporal variations across several parameters, particularly during peak bathing days. During Mahakumbh, transparency and TDS levels fluctuated significantly, indicating increased turbidity and pollutant load due to mass gatherings. DO levels generally decreased while BOD increased on key bathing days, especially on February 3 and 6, suggesting a decline in water quality due to organic load. A slight decrease in pH and increases in TH and chloride concentrations were also observed at both sites during the event. Post-Mahakumbh (Feb 28), some recovery in parameters like DO and transparency was evident, though not uniformly across all indicators