'No One Dared To Disrespect A Woman Here'
By Manu Shrivastava
At the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, 663 million people converged in an unprecedented spiritual gathering. Among them were women from every walk of life—young and old, Indian and foreign, ascetics and professionals—each experiencing something the modern world often fails to offer: absolute safety in a crowd of millions. These are their stories—first-person accounts of women who walked freely, prayed deeply, and witnessed the impossible made possible.
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| In the most crowded place on earth, women felt the safest |
"In a crowd larger than continents, I felt safer than in my own city"
— Aparna Shah, 29, Software Engineer, Mumbai
"I live in Mumbai, a city where I check my watch before stepping out after dark. I don’t take cabs alone, and my friends always track my location. But here, at the Kumbh, I walked among millions without once looking over my shoulder. At 2 AM, I walked barefoot from my tent to the Sangam. Strangers—men, women, sadhus—parted to make way, offering guidance, asking if I needed water, ensuring I was comfortable. There was no jostling, no unwanted stares, no fear. In a world where we debate women’s safety endlessly, this place has already found the answer."
"No one dared to disrespect a woman here—respect is in the air"
— Kokila Devi, 58, Farmer, Uttar Pradesh
"I have attended Kumbhs before, but this time, it was different. I am a widow, and in my village, women like me are often ignored. But here, the moment I stepped in, volunteers helped me find a place, the police guided me, and younger women ensured I had food. Not once did I feel like an inconvenience. The men here, young and old, treat women with an old-world respect. Not because they fear the law, but because they believe it is their dharma. For a widow like me, this respect means everything."
"Even as a foreigner, I never felt out of place"
— Sofia Andersen, 34, Journalist, Denmark
"Before coming here, I was warned about large gatherings in India. But I had to see it for myself. I have covered protests in the West where security personnel were overwhelmed by just a hundred thousand people. And here I was, in a crowd of crores, moving seamlessly without chaos, without panic. What struck me most was how women—elderly, pregnant, disabled—were given priority everywhere. Police, volunteers, and even ordinary men stepped forward to help, but never intrusively. In a world where women are often told to be cautious, this place let me breathe freely."
"My wheelchair did not stop me from reaching the Sangam"
— Janki Nair, 41, Entrepreneur, Bengaluru
"As a woman with a disability, I am used to staying behind while others move forward. But here, at the Maha Kumbh, I was carried—literally and figuratively. I had strangers offering to help, pathways created for easy movement, and police ensuring my safety without treating me like a burden. My family was worried about my decision to come here, but I can tell you now—this is the safest I have ever felt in a public space. Here, everyone matters."
"Even in a city of tents, I slept peacefully"
— Fatima Bano, 25, Student, Bhopal
"I come from a conservative Muslim family, and attending the Kumbh was a spiritual journey for me beyond religion. I was skeptical—how could a place with so many people ensure safety? But the moment I entered Prayagraj, I realised something special was happening here. I met women traveling alone, elderly women crossing the ghats, and volunteers ensuring no one felt unsafe. I slept in a tent with a group of strangers and felt as secure as I do at home. It’s ironic—here, in the most crowded place on earth, I felt the most at peace."
"For the first time, I walked without fear"
— Meera Rajan, 67, Retired Teacher, Chennai
"I have spent my life cautioning my daughters and granddaughters about their safety. ‘Don’t walk alone, don’t trust strangers, don’t stay out too late.’ But here, in Prayagraj, I saw a different world. I walked alone for miles, through crowded ghats, down narrow lanes, and past thousands of men. Not once did I feel unsafe. It wasn’t just about security personnel—it was a shared sense of responsibility. If this can happen here, in a city that grew overnight, why can’t it happen everywhere else?"
The world debates women’s safety. Prayagraj has already solved it.
For forty days, in the largest gathering ever recorded in the world, not a single woman reported a crime against her. It wasn’t just a logistical triumph; it was a social one. The Kumbh, steeped in history, proved that when culture, faith, governance, and human decency align, women don’t just feel safe—they are safe.
As the world marks International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025, Prayagraj offers more than just hope. It offers proof. Women’s safety isn’t a distant dream—it is a reality waiting to be implemented, just as it was, flawlessly, at the Maha Kumbh 2025.
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