Magh Mela Research Articles

The Statistical Analysis to Find Correlation Between Mass Gathering Event and COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak: The Prayagraj Magh Mela 2021 Experience

Magh mela, a smaller form of Kumbh mela, organize every year in Prayagraj. With the emergence of novel corona virus, there is worldwide discussion to find out the effective way to organize or cancel the mass gathering events. The present study assesses the challenges in organization of mass gathering events like Magh mela held at Prayagraj, India in 2021. The correlation between increased cases of COVID-19 and Magh mela-2021 has been highlighted through statistical analysis and growth curves using the available data. The study finds that there is a correlation between the Magh mela-2021 mass gathering event and increased rate of COVID-19 infections. After the Magh mela 2021, the average daily increase in the COVID-19 cases started to increase. It was found 4.25%, 6.28% and 2.73% in India, Uttar Pradesh and Prayagraj, respectively.

Social relations in crowds: Recognition, validation and solidarity

AbstractSocial identity research on crowds demonstrates how cognitive self‐definition as a crowd member results in conformity to identity‐relevant norms. Rather less research has addressed the social‐relational changes within a crowd and how these impact collective experience positively. The present study investigates these processes at a month‐long mass gathering in India. Analysis of 37 interviews with participants attending the annual Magh Mela pilgrimage evidences the concept of shared identity as underpinning their understanding of this mass gathering. Moreover, a theoretically derived thematic analysis of these interviews shows the value of the analytic concepts of recognition, validation, and solidarity in illuminating the ways in which social relations in the crowd were experienced and contributed to the experience of the event. Through exploring the multi‐dimensional nature of relational connectedness in crowds we contribute to an understanding of crowd experience and group processes.

A survey regarding awareness and beliefs about Homoeopathy among general population during Magh Mela at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background and Objective: Homoeopathy is one of the various alternative systems of medicine prevalent in India. A survey was conducted during the month of January–February 2017 in a congregation at Sangam, Allahabad, to know about the awareness of general population about Homoeopathy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on patients and people visiting the health check-up camp and exhibition stall set-up during Magh Mela at Sangam, Allahabad. A self-administered questionnaire was used during the survey, devised by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy. Results: Of 1144 total respondents, 68.1% had knowledge about Homoeopathy. About 46.6% of respondents believed that it has no side effects and 15.1% believed that it is cost-effective. The diseases for which most of the participants have taken homoeopathic treatment were fever, common cold, constipation and diarrhoea. Conclusion: General population has knowledge about Homoeopathy, but various misconceptions are also prevalent. Awareness campaigns are needed to make people more aware about Homoeopathy and its effectiveness in various disorders.

Tinea: Incidence during Magh Mela

Background: Dermatophytosis refer to superficial fungal infection of keratinized tissues caused by keratinophilic dermatophytes. It is common in tropics and may present in epidemic proportions in areas with high rates of humidity.Methods: The retrospective study was carried out from January 2018 to February 2018 at Allahabad. Gram stain, KOH examination and culture were carried out in 300 cases.Results: Out of the 300 suspected cases authors identified, 263 cultures tested positive. The macroscopic examination of the scalp, skin and the nails of these 36 patients further revealed 50.20% Tinea corporis, 17.87% Tinea cruris, 11.02 % Tinea mannum, 8.74% Tinea pedis, 7.99% onychomycosis, 3.42% Tinea versicolor and 0.76% Tinea capitis. Culture examinations revealed 52.47% Trychophyton mentagrophyte, 34.98% Trichyopyton rubrum, 3.80% Trychophyton violaceum, 3.43% Malessesia, 2.28% Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, 1.52% Trichophyton verrucosum, 0.76% Microsporum canis and 0.76% Epidermophyton flucossum.Conclusions: The study concludes that in a short period of Magh Mela authors got a large number of skin patients because of their belief that the holiness Ganga water will cure skin problems by itself. Some of the patients were found infected from the beginning and some gather infections during their stay in the mela period. Therefore, a prompt recognition of skin lesions and the identification of these superficial fungi are required for judicious management.

Paronychia: incidence during Magh Mela

Background: Paronychia is one of the most common infections of the fingers and toes. Clinically, paronychia present as an acute or a chronic condition.Methods: The retrospective study was carried out from January 2018 to February 2018 at Allahabad. Gram stain, ZN stain, KOH examination and culture were carried out in 230 cases and species identification was done by Vitek-2 system.Results: Out of these 230 cases 142 (61.73%) presented acute paronychia, 58 (25.21%) cases of chronic paronychia and the remaining 30 cases (13.06%) did not show any growth. In the cases of acute paronychia, authors identified 53.52% Staphylococcus aures, 15.49% Staphylococcus saprophyticus, 2.82% Micrococci and 6.34% Citrobacter among aerobes while among anaerobes authors isolated 5.63% Peptococcus, 8.45% Peptostreptococcus, 3.52% Bacteroides and 4.23% Fusobacterium. Among chronic paronychia authors recorded 48.28% pure bacterial growth, 18.97% pure fungal growth, 20.69% mixed bacterial infections and 12.07% mixed bacterial and fungal infections.Conclusions: From this study authors conclude that cold weather and humidity were the predominant and predisposing factors of the high incidence of acute paronychia. Due to very short span single pathogen was isolated from the lesions. In cases of chronic paronychia 37.76% mixed infection were also recorded which may be due to super aided infections with primary pathogen.

Role of Social Detachment in Coping With Death Anxiety: A Case of Elderly Hindu Pilgrims.

The present research examines the strength of terror management theory in an indigenous Indian context of religious fair called Magh Mela. It explores how elderly Hindu people deal with death anxiety through practicing Kalpvas in Magh Mela. The research explores the role of social detachment and self-esteem in coping with terror of death. Study 1, a field experiment on 150 Kalpvasis (practitioners of Kalpvas) confirms the significant role of social detachment as an adaptive strategy for coping with death terror. The role of self-esteem did not emerge in the study. Study 2, another field experiment on 62 Kalpvasis confirms results of study 1. Significant role of years of Kalpvas on fear of death shows importance of the religious practices in managing terror related to death. The relation of terror management theory and death anxiety thus follows a different explanation for more indigenous contexts.

An approach for the analysis of the effects of solid waste management in slum areas by rapid impact assessment matrix analysis

Magh Mela (Mela) is a mass gathering festival of Hindus and held on the banks of the confluence (SANGAM) of the three holy rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in Allahabad (India). It starts on Makar Sankranti day, i.e., 14th January of every year for 45 days. This study deals with the analysis of solid waste management (SWM) systems in slum areas near the confluence before, during and after the Mela. Surveys were conducted before, after and during the Mela through the questionnaire comprising of physical/chemical, biological/ecological, social/cultural and economical/operational aspects. The responses were analysed with rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) to quantify the intangible effects on the environmental score (ES). Environmental performance index (EPI) was computed for all the three phases to intelligibly ascertain the efficacy of the systems/methodologies involved in SWM system. The SWM system did show remarkable improvements during the Mela compared to the other phases.

An approach for the analysis of the effects of solid waste management in slum areas by rapid impact assessment matrix analysis

Magh Mela (Mela) is a mass gathering festival of Hindus and held on the banks of the confluence (SANGAM) of the three holy rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in Allahabad (India). It starts on Makar Sankranti day, i.e., 14th January of every year for 45 days. This study deals with the analysis of solid waste management (SWM) systems in slum areas near the confluence before, during and after the Mela. Surveys were conducted before, after and during the Mela through the questionnaire comprising of physical/chemical, biological/ecological, social/cultural and economical/operational aspects. The responses were analysed with rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) to quantify the intangible effects on the environmental score (ES). Environmental performance index (EPI) was computed for all the three phases to intelligibly ascertain the efficacy of the systems/methodologies involved in SWM system. The SWM system did show remarkable improvements during the Mela compared to the other phases.

How Collective Participation Impacts Social Identity: A Longitudinal Study from India

A key issue for political psychology concerns the processes whereby people come to invest psychologically in socially and politically significant group identities. Since Durkheim, it has been assumed that participation in group‐relevant collective events increases one's investment in such group identities. However, little empirical research explicitly addresses this or the processes involved. We investigated these issues in a longitudinal questionnaire study conducted at one of the world's largest collective events—a month‐long Hindu festival in north India (the Magh Mela). Data gathered from pilgrims and comparable others who did not attend the event show that one month after the event, those who had participated (but not the controls) exhibited heightened social identification as a Hindu and increased frequency of prayer rituals. Data gathered from pilgrims during the festival predicted these outcomes. Specifically, perceptions of sharing a common identity with other pilgrims and of being able to enact one's social identity in this event helped predict changes in participants' identification and behavior. The wider significance of these data for political psychology is discussed.

Assessment of Ganges River Water Quality at Allahabad: A case study for the event of Magha Mela

Considering Ganga River as one of main Holy River in India, millions of people throng to the river to have a holy dip, Aachman (Mouthful of holy water) and cleanse themselves of sins. Magh Mela is a great festival to take place in bank of Triveni (Sangam) at Allahabad and runs more than one and half month, when millions of pilgrims from different regions in India go there for taking a holy bath in Sangam of Ganga. Thus, the bathing in the river during Magh Mela leads to high pollution of the river in comparison to other days such as normal bathing days. This study focused on the water quality status from some selected physico-chemical parameters of River Ganges and the impact of Magh Mela as well as the variation in the river’s flow rate. Results indicate that the pollution load was alarmingly high and the flow of the Ganga had been very poor. Further, the study found that the water was not fit for bathing during the 2012 Magh Mela. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v8i3.9303 International Journal of Life Sciences Vol.8(3): 2014: 8-14

Cold comfort at the Magh Mela: Social identity processes and physical hardship

Humans inhabit environments that are both social and physical, and in this article we investigate if and how social identity processes shape the experience and negotiation of physically demanding environmental conditions. Specifically, we consider how severe cold can be interpreted and experienced in relation to group members' social identity. Our data comprise ethnographic observation and semi-structured interviews with pilgrims attending a month-long winter Hindu religious festival that is characterized by near-freezing conditions. The analysis explores (1) how pilgrims appraised the cold and how these appraisals were shaped by their identity as pilgrims; (2) how shared identity with other pilgrims led to forms of mutual support that made it easier to cope with the cold. Our findings therefore extend theorizing on social identity processes to highlight their relevance to physical as well as social conditions.

Random Sample

A distant nebula bears a startling resemblance to Earth's humble manatee, researchers report an "increased sense of well-being" in Magh Mela festival attendees, this week's numbers report a record low number of global guinea worm cases, and join us for a live chat on the science of gun violence.

Hindus' Evaluations of Hindus and Muslims: Religious Leaders and Pilgrims at the Magh Mela

Two studies examined religious and political predictors of Hindus' attitudes toward Hindus and Muslims. In the first study, data came from interviews with 311 leaders of religious groups encamped at the Magh Mela, an annual religious gathering held at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers in northern India. Results indicated that most of the indicators of religious involvement were positively related to favoritism of the ingroup (Hindus) rather than devaluation of the outgroup (Muslims). In contrast, affiliation with the Hindu‐nationalist political party (Bharatiya Janata Party) was related to devaluation of Muslims rather than favoritism of Hindus. In the second study, which involved interviews with 107 kalpavasis (pilgrims) who visited a subsequent Mela, results indicated, consistent with the first study, that religious beliefs were positively related to favoritism of Hindus. A religious behavior, frequency of worship, was related to negative evaluations of Muslims. Overall, religious leaders and kalpavasis did not differ in their ratings of Muslims, but, congruent with the notion that the more strongly one identifies with the ingroup, the more impact it will have, religious leaders evaluated Hindus significantly more positively than did kalpavasis.

Evaluations of a sacred place: Role and religious belief at the Magh Mela

People perceive places differently because of the different material, social, and symbolic aspects of the locations and because individuals have different backgrounds and different reasons for being at the locations. Two studies examined how role and religious beliefs affect perceptions of the environment at the Magh Mela, an annual religious festival at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers in north India. In the first study ( n=375), we interviewed individuals who were at the Mela for one of six reasons (religious pilgrims, sweepers, boatmen, police, businessmen, or student volunteers) about their religious beliefs and their perceptions of the Mela. Results indicated that the evaluations of pilgrims, who were at the Mela for religious reasons, were associated with evaluations of physical amenities and religious social support, whereas the other five groups, who were at the Mela primarily for nonreligious purposes, evaluated the Mela on the basis of material characteristics only. In the second study ( n=311), we found that religious leaders’ evaluations of the Mela were affected by material characteristics, religious social support, and intrinsic religious belief.

Territoriality at the Magh Mela

The Magh Mela, an annual Hindu festival held at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, attracts about 150,000 pilgrims who stay for a month in campsites maintained by religious organizations. This study examined territoriality at the campsites in terms of (a) observed characteristics—including personalizations (e.g., flags, banners) and barriers (e.g., fences, gates)—and (b) behavioral responses to an experimental intrusion by 1 or 2 intruder-interviewers who were either male or female. Across dependent measures, larger organizations and more fundamentalist organizations were more territorial. Results from the experiment indicated that territorial defense, in the form of a faster response to an intrusion, was evidenced more for female than male intruders and more for 1 than 2 intruders. These findings suggest that the concept of territorial defense should be broadened beyond physically threatening intrusions to include symbolically threatening intrusions (e.g., an intrusion by a single woman).