10 of the Largest Gatherings in Human History

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Humans are a social animal. Normally, we want to gather together. This can be for many purposes including religious, music, political, ect. These events have ended up becoming so of the largest festivals in human history. With that in mind, check out below for 10 of the largest gatherings in human history.

#10: Kumbh Mela Pilgrimage

The Kumbh Mela Pilgrimage took place in India in 2013. Additionally, people believe it to be the largest gathering ever. Typically, the pilgrimage takes place in Uttar Pradesh, India every 12 years. The 2013 pilgrimage attracts about 40 million Hindi pilgrims yearly. Kumbh Mela was considered special and everyone who got the opportunity to bathe in the holy river purified themselves from sins.^[1]ResearchGate – Pilgrimage and Power: The Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, 1765-1954

After the ceremony, people had to wait for another 12 years before getting another opportunity to bathe in the river. It is this purification that attracted a massive 40 million people who assembled in an area of 20 square kilometer for the occasion. The bathing ceremony was held in the confluence of River Yamuna, Saraswati, and Holy River Ganges. The venue is located where the three rivers meet in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is considered one of the largest festivals to be held in the world. Normally, before the festivals, devotees clean the banks of the three rivers in preparation for the ceremony. The next ceremony will be held in 2025 and is expected to attract over 100 million people who will be looking forward to washing away their sins and put an end to the reincarnation process.

#9: The 2014 Arbaeen Religious Festival in Kerbala, Iraq

The pilgrimage festival took place in Karbala, Iraq in 2014. Historians believe that there were about 17 million people making it one of the largest festivals ever. It commemorates the death of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Normally millions of Shia Muslims come to it. In fact, more people go to it than the Haji pilgrimage. In 2014, millions of black-clad Shia pilgrims converged in the Kerbala, Iraq for the annual event.^[2]NCC Iraq – Kerbala Governorate Profile People walked in long columns that stretched up to 50 miles. In addition, they slept and ate in tents beside the roads. The commemorations takes place annually. In fact, it is one of the ways via which the Shia display their solidarity and belief.

In 2014, the event coincided with the defeat of Isis movement. Isis had slaughtered tens of thousands of Shias in their effort to overthrow the Shia dominated Iraq government. Arba’een has, therefore, become a significant development, not just in Iraq alone, but the entire Middle East.

#8: The Funeral of CN Annadurai, India, 1969

The funeral of Annadurai took place in India in 1969. He was born in 1909 and died in 1969.^[3]MapsofIndia – 3 February 1969: C. N. Annadurai, chief minister of Tamil Nadu, died The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu’s burial attracted over 15 milion people who gathered in the southern Indian State. In fact, historians believe it to have been the largest festivals funeral attendance in history.

Annadurai was a writer and a speaker who was extremely popular. His popularity grew after he rejected the use of Hindi in his state and instead made Tamil the official language. As a disciple of the reformist leader Ramasamy, he became the chief minister in 1967. He is famous for his literature about his political work both in English and Tamil. In addition, he was the first chief minister of Tamil Nadu state after independence. Also his great oratory skills help captivate audiences and propel him into politics. As a simple man, he was highly concerned about the poor and focused on a reconciliatory approach to differences.

#7: The Funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini

The funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini took place in Tehran and attracted over 10 million people. In fact, people from all over Iran came to mourn the death of their leader. The mourning of the revolutionary leader was chaotic as millions of people displayed their grief in the streets.^[4]CIA – The Politics of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Khomeini died in a clinic in Jamaran, Iran with President Ali Khamenei and Akbar Hashemi the speaker of parliament besides him.

The state decided to delay the announcement of his passing on so as to prepare his body and allow the government to impose a state of emergency so that they could put the borders on alert just in case of attacks from Iraq.  Despite the delay in Tehran radio announcing the death, rumors flew around the city and people started making their way to Jamaran. They then moved his body to the place called Musalla, Tehran where public prayers and sacrifices took place. On the burial day, over 10 million people marched in a procession. In fact, there were so many people, that it was difficult for the hearse to move. They airlifted the body to Tehran for ritual preparation and announced over the radio that the burial was postponed by five hours.

#6: John Paull II Visits Manila

When Pope John Paul II visited Manila, the Philippines in 1995, he attracted a crowd of six million people putting it near the top of the largest festivals ever. Perhaps it was the remarks that the pope made about Prophet Mohammed that helped to pull the crowd into the Philippine’s capital. The six million people present made the gathering among the sixth largest meetups in human history.

In fact, he was so moved by the people at the airport, the he said that the Filipino people were always close to his mind and heart. The Pontiff was then 74 years old. On his arrival, thousands of people lined up the streets in Manilla to welcome the Polish-born pontiff. In the meeting, the Pope told Cardinal Sin that it was his wish that the Manila Cathedral be made a basilica.^[5]Official Gazette – Papal visit trivia This visit remains unparalleled and is considered as the most arousing visit in the history of the Philippines.

#5: World Youth Day, 1995

The world youth day started 20 years ago. Today, it is one of the largest festivals of the world’s young people. In fact, it attracts youths from across the globe. The 1995 gathering attracted close to 8 million youth from across the globe. Pope John Paul II even attended the event. That year, the event took place in the Philippines. Amazingly, this was the first time the event took place in an Asian country.

In addition, it was the second time the Pontiff was making a trip to Manila, Philippines. The multitude of youths who attended the event made it difficult for the Pope to access the venue. It forced the officials to airlift him to the event in a chopper. One week before the celebrations, the youth assembled at the University of Santo Tomas. Here, a few selected youths across the globe were able to have a talk with the Pontiff. The youths celebrated the ‘’God together‘’ theme. Catholic representatives from Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China attended the event as well.^[6]Its Not Just Me Out There: Type A Pilgrims at World Youth Day*

#4: Gamal Abdel Nasser’s Funeral

The funeral of the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser took place in 1970. About five million people attended the event.^[7]Nasser’s Legacy on the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 War Gamal died from a heart attack while at the airport. Sounds of mourning filled Cairo’s streets as the interim President Anwar Sadat announced plans for the state funeral. The president was to be laid to rest in a tomb next to El Fateh which was later renamed Gamal Adel Nasser Mosque. A multitude of people visited Kubbeh Palace where the body of the president was lying. This was a clear sign that the security forces had to prepare adequately for the funeral.

Leaders that were expected to attend the funeral included Alexei Kosygin of the former Soviet Union. Prior to his burial, there were tearful cries and morning as youths chanting verses from the Koran clung on lampposts and trees as women in black screamed in hysteria. Many people fainted and were carried away on stretchers. Gamal was considered an Arab nationalist who defied the west and nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956.

#3: Hajj Pilgrimage, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 2012

The annual religious takes place annually in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It traces its roots to Abraham. All pilgrims must walk to the plain of Arafat and stand near the Mount of Mercy and ask Allah to forgive them. In addition, all able-bodied Muslims must make the trip to Mecca and attend the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Afterwards, the pilgrims must walk to Mina and throw stones at pillars that represent the devil, Satan. The Pilgrims then must go back to Mecca to slaughter an animal and perform tawaf before they walk around the Kaaba. Lastly, the pilgrims must drink from the holy stream before they return to Medina for the Hajj.

In 2012, the ceremony took place between October 24th -29th. Observers estimate that over 3 million pilgrimages attended the event to perform Hajj making it one of the largest festivals ever.^[8]Social identification moderates the effect of crowd density on safety at the Hajj In fact so many people attend the event that there was a serious stampede which prompted the Saudi Arabia government to cut the number of people attending the pilgrimage. Pilgrims from foreign countries have to abide by the quota system that varies depending on the country. The Saudi Arabian government blamed the 2012 tragedy on the pilgrims who ignored the allocated time for each group. There were so many people that most of the more than 3 million pilgrims who attended the event in 2012 had to sleep on a marble floor.

#2: Anti-War March, Rome, 2003

The US president launched Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2002. Its agenda was to invade Iraq and remove President Saddam Hussein from power. However, in response, there was an antiwar uproar all over the world.^[9]Iraq War: Background and Issues Overview President Bush had accused Saddam Hussein of harboring weapons of mass destruction, a thing that fueled protests all over the world. The protests grew steadily as the attack day came closer.

One month before the invasion, three million protestors in Rome marched through the capital and protested over the invasion. Historians believe this is the largest anti-war matches in human history. The protest was on February 15th. The protest took place in other places then just Rome. In fact, it took place in over 600 cities around the world making it one of the world’s largest festivals. Historians estimate that a total of eight million people took part in the protest.

#1: Rod Stewart Concert, Brazil, 1994

When the British rock Singer Rod Stewart set his foot in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it was clear that he would attract a multitude of people.^[10]25 Years of Extraordinary Events Historians estimate that three and a half million people attended the event making it one of the world’s largest festivals. They consider it the largest concert in the world. Organizers staged the concert in 1994 during New Year’s Eve. They estimate that the concert had over 4.2 million people; however, the figure includes revelers who were only interested in midnight fireworks.