NASA Astronaut Captures Maha Kumbh Mela from Space
NASA astronaut Donald Pettit has posted some breathtaking photos of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela from space, giving a unique view of the world's largest human gathering. Pettit is currently on board the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Expedition 72 and captured the sprawling city of Prayagraj lit up at night during the event, which draws millions of Hindu pilgrims to the banks of the Ganges River.
On Sunday, Pettit posted two breathtaking photos on social media showing the illuminated gathering starkly against the vast darkness of the Earth's surface. The astronaut, 69, described the photos as a view of the '2025 Maha Kumbh Mela Ganges River pilgrimage' from the ISS. He highlighted the scale of the event, noting, 'The largest human gathering in the world is well lit'.
Images spread fast and won the hearts of followers who could not resist the sheer magnitude of the pilgrimage and the striking illumination it presented. One social media user described the scene as 'breathtaking' and went on to stress the immense scale of the gathering, which is regarded as the largest human assembly on the planet.
The Maha Kumbh Mela is a major religious and cultural event, which brings in millions of devotees every few years. 2025 has been no exception in terms of its scale being awe-inspiring.
