Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

Original publication date: December 9, 2024

Updated: December 9, 2024

Current situation

The Maha Kumbh Mela pilgrimage will take place in Uttar Pradesh, India, from January 13 to February 26, 2025. This event is held every 12 years and is the biggest religious gathering in the world, with millions of people expected to attend from all over the world. 

While the Maha Kumbh Mela is a time for celebration, it’s important to be aware of the risks that come with attending large gatherings. With so many people in one place, diseases can spread more easily, and there’s a higher chance of getting accidentally injured. Make sure to prepare for your trip and learn how to stay safe.  

Learn more:

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 (gov.in)

Recommendations

Before your trip

Talk to a healthcare provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably about 6 weeks before your trip to get personalized health advice. Even if you're short on time, it's still a good idea to make an appointment.

Discuss with the healthcare provider:

• which pre-travel vaccines or medications may be right for you
• whether your routine vaccinations, like measles, are up-to-date. Many require a booster as an adult
• the medications you’re currently taking or planning to bring with you

Before you leave and during your stay in India, make sure to check the Travel Advice and Advisories page and review the current travel health notices for the most up-to-date information and advice.

Travel health notices
India travel advice and advisories

Pack a travel health kit and consider purchasing travel health insurance.

Travel health kit
Travel health insurance

Registration of Canadians Abroad

Sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service so that the Government of Canada can contact and assist you in case of an emergency abroad or help your family or friends reach you in case of an emergency at home.

Registration of Canadians Abroad

Learn more:

Tips for healthy travel
Vaccination for adults

During your trip

Be prepared for emergencies

• The risk of accidental injuries is higher in large crowds (e.g., stampedes).
• If possible, avoid very crowded areas.
• Know where to find medical care if needed.
• Carry identification for any existing medical conditions.

Government of Canada’s offices abroad can assist Canadian citizens in case of an emergency. You should carry the contact information for the nearest Canadian office and the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa open 24/7. 

High Commission of Canada in India
Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Clean your hands regularly

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
  
  • This is especially important before eating and after using the washroom.
  • Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with you when you travel.
  • If your hands are visibly dirty, you should wash them with soap and water instead of using hand sanitizer.

Clean your hands to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases

Practise safe food and water precautions

The most common illnesses in travellers are caused by eating food, drinking beverages, or ingesting water that is contaminated with bacteria, parasites or viruses. 

• Try to avoid getting water in your mouth or nose when bathing or swimming.
• Drink water only if it has been boiled, disinfected, or in a commercially sealed bottle, or comes from areas clearly marked as having safe water. Don’t drink water from bathing sites.
• Use only the available toilets and urinals.
• Only eat foods that are well cooked and served hot. Avoid food served at room temperature.
• Only eat fruits and vegetables if you have washed them in safe water or peeled them yourself.

Eat and drink safely abroad

Protect yourself from person-to-person infections

You can reduce your risk of getting or spreading respiratory infections by:

• staying away from others if you’re sick
• wearing a well-fitted mask, especially if you're not feeling well
• covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, not your hands

Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread

Avoid contact with animals

Some infections, like avian influenza (bird flu) and rabies, can be spread between humans and animals.

To reduce the risk of getting sick, avoid:

• contact with animals like stray dogs, farm animals (like pigs and cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, especially if they look sick.  
• visiting places where live animals are sold or killed for food, like farms and wet markets
• touching surfaces that have bird or animal droppings on them.

Rabies: Travel health advice
Avian influenza

Protect yourself from insect bites 

Insects can carry and spread diseases, such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and Zika. To protect yourself from bites:

• use an approved bug spray (insect repellent) on exposed skin
• wear light-coloured, loose clothing made of tightly woven materials like nylon or polyester
• sleep under mosquito netting if you’re outdoors or staying in places that aren’t fully enclosed

Insect bite and pest prevention
Personal insect repellents

Follow sun and heat safety tips 

• Plan activities to avoid peak heat times and seek shade where possible.
• Make sure to stay hydrated and eat regularly.

Sun and heat safety tips for travellers

Abide by local laws

Visit the Government of Canada's Travel Advice and Advisories page for the most up-to-date information on laws and culture in India.

India – Laws and culture

Monitor your health

Tell the medical staff or the local health services if you:

• develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath
• have other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea

Learn more:

If you become sick or injured while travelling outside Canada or after your return
Maha Kumbh Mela - Do's and Don'ts (gov.in)
Travel outside Canada
Tips for healthy travel 

Returning to Canada

If you begin to feel sick during your travel back to Canada, you should:

• put on a well-fitting respirator or mask, if possible 
• limit contact with other people, if possible
• inform the flight attendant, cruise staff and/or a border services officer as soon as possible. You may be referred to a quarantine officer for a health assessment and further direction.

If you begin to feel sick after you return to Canada, you should:

• limit contact with other people
• call a health care provider and notify them about your symptoms before an in-person appointment, so they can take proper precautions, if necessary 
• tell the health care provider where you have travelled

Learn more:

If you become sick or injured while travelling outside Canada or after your return