A Prayagraj resident has called for an end to the flood of visitors during the Mahakumbh, as the increasing crowd is disrupting daily life. In a Reddit post, they expressed the city’s “breaking point,” highlighting congested roads and crowded public transport. Despite infrastructure improvements made for the event, locals feel overwhelmed and blamed for the congestion. The user recounted an incident where they faced criticism while attempting to navigate the city. They pleaded with visitors to postpone their trips, emphasizing that the sacred sites won’t disappear and urging compassion for the exhausted residents. The Mahakumbh runs until February 26.
As the relentless Mahakumbh crowd continues to grow and disrupt the daily lives of Prayagraj residents, a local has taken to social media to urge visitors to refrain from coming to the city. In a Reddit post, a resident expressed that Prayagraj has officially reached its “breaking point.” The overwhelming number of tourists has made it challenging for locals to navigate their everyday routines.
The user detailed how the city underwent significant changes over the past year due to the Mahakumbh city renovation, featuring new roads, flyovers, and enhanced traffic management. However, the excitement of accommodating such a grand event has shifted to sheer fatigue.
“Now it’s 19th February. The last Amrit Snan is already done. Why on earth is the crowd only increasing instead of dwindling?” he wrote.
The user painted a stark picture of the city’s deteriorating conditions, reporting congested highways, overcrowded public transport, and even the narrowest streets packed with people and vehicles.
Sharing an especially frustrating experience, the user recounted how locals are being held responsible for the traffic congestion. He noted, “The worst part? We locals are being blamed. Yesterday, I thought, ‘Chalo, jo bacha-kucha hai, ghoom lete hain. (Let’s explore what’s left of the city)‘ What a mistake that was. I took my vehicle out, only to be confronted by strangers yelling at me, claiming ‘Aap logon ki wajah se jam lag raha hai!‘ (There is traffic congestion because of you) Bruh, we live here.”
Prayagraj is EXHAUSTED! Locals are DONE with the Mahakumbh crowd????????????????????
byu/Sopredictablee inuttarpradesh
The user ended his post with a heartfelt plea, urging devotees to delay their visits. “Please, for the love of God, STOP COMING. Ganga ji aur Sangam kahin nahi ja rahe. (The Ganga and the Sangam aren’t going anywhere). You can visit peacefully later. Have some compassion for this city and its residents. We are begging you,” he implored.
The post noted that pedestrians were spitting and littering with little regard for civic responsibility, while vehicles exacerbated the “already insane” traffic situation.
The Maha Kumbh, the largest religious gathering globally, commenced on January 13 and is set to conclude on February 26.