March 1894.] ALLAHABAD MAGH MELA OP 1894. 97

ALLA.HA13AD MAGH MELA OF 1894.

Eveiiy January a large gathering, partly religious and partly mercantile in its character,

assembles at Allahabad. In the January of

every twelfth year the gathering assumes

gigantic proportions and the religious element throws the commercial completely into the shade. These twelfth year gatherings are known by the name of Khumbs, and like the Hard war Khumbs

may last a considerable time. The Khumb

Mela of Allahabad began this year about the

middle of January and continued till past the

middle of February. During that time two

particularly sacred days occurred, which were

distinguished by the procession of the Fakirs to the bathing ghats The principal day was that of the 6th of February and the less important on

February 10th. To be present on any day of

the Khumb, to bathe in the holy place where the

waters of the Ganges and the Jumna meet, and

to be purified in the invisible river, Tribeni, which

according to the Hindoo's faith rises at the meet-

ing of the waters, are things which every devout Hindu longs to be able to do; but to perform these ablutions on the 6th, on the same day that the Fakirs go down to the sacred ghat and bathe, is doubly desirable, and is a consummation that

brings supreme happiness to the pious soul. Hence

the enormous concourse of people that collect

from all parts of India to be present on that

day. There were at Allahabad nearly three

millions of pilgrims on the 6th of February and some 25,000 Fakirs.

To provide for such a vast multitude in a man- ner that it should not be a danger to itself or to the inhabitants of Allahabad was a herculean task. But Dr. Hutcheson, the Sanitary Commissioner for the North-West Provinces, and Dr. Giles, the

Deputy Sanitary Commissioner, are to be con-

gratulated on the successful manner in which

they solved the problem placed before them.

It was well done and deserves every commenda-

tion. The scientific aspect of the question was also not forgotten. Some valuable bacteriological

o

investigations were made by Mr. Hanlcin on the day when the crowd was greatest. The disad-

vantages under which Mr. Hankiu labored

owing to there being no laboratory in Allahabad were many, but doubtless much useful and in-

structive information will nevertheless be obtain- ed from the systematic experiments which were instituted. This Mela was accordingly character-

ised by un earnest endeavour to apply modern ideas of sanitation to an immense gathering and also by an attempt to make use of the opportunity to further our knowledge in a scientific direction.

Dr. Hutcheson's former experience at the

Hard war Khumb in 1891 was special ly valuable. On that occasion he showed that an immense

congregation of people can be sanitarily dealt with if the Government are only disposed to

spend the money and supply the requisite super- vision. On this occasion he further successfully demonstrated that an assemblage three times the size of that which was present at the Hnrdwar

Khumb of 1891 can be managed in a similar

fashion. All the arrangements were such as to reflect great credit on those concerned. Fortu-

nately there was no lack of space for an encamp- ment, and this is one of the favorable local condi-

tions at Allahabad. A temporary town with

streets of 30 and 40 feet in width was construct-

ed, filtered water-pipes were laid down along these streets, and standposts at fitting intervals were erected. These standposts were in great re-

quisition by the pilgrims, for whatever may be the theoretical objections raised against the use of fil- tered water, it is found in practice that the pilgrims appreciate good water as well as other people, and are not slow in showing that appreciation by making liberal use of the water provided for them. Overcrowding in the lodging-houses was checked by careful regulations as to space, and

only in 18 houses occupied by families of distinc- tion were private latrines permitted. The rest of

the houses were without latrines, a suitable num- ber of urinals was placed in the back streets, the basins of the urinals being washed with cororsive ,

sublimate; and away some short distance skirting the newly-erected town was located a long line of latrines for males and females. The latriues were on the separate and dry earth system. Washing places were also provided in these latrines, the basins con- taining a certain quantity of corrosive sublimate. A system of careful inspection was organized and each latrine was kept in excellent order. Behind

the latrines a tramway line was laid down leading to the trenching ground, which was at a safe dis- tance from the populated portion of the new town. By this arrangement the excreta of this vast

multitude was rapidly disposed of without trouble or offence. Naturally at the commencement of the festival in January there was some difficul-

ty encountered in getting the pilgrims to go to the 20

98 INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE. [March 1894.

public hitrines, but this appeared to be due rather to ignorance as to their situation and a prefer- ence for the field to which many of the pilgrims as peasants had always been accustomed. As

soon, however, as it was understood that latrines had been specially provided for them, and serious notice had been taken of a few offenders against the sanitary regulations every objection and dif-

ficulty disappeared and the latrines were used as a matter of course. In fact, one of the most re- markable lessons to be learnt both from the

Hurdwar Khuinb and the Magh Khumb of Allahabad is that the Hindoo crowd is not an

uncleanly crowd, if proper sanitary arrange- ments and ample supervising agencies are pro- vided. The pilgrims are quite willing to use

the latrines when they are there, and to abide

by regulations if the supervision is sufficient.

It is the height of absurdity to assail the un-

cleanliness of the pilgrim when insufficient pro- vision has been made to insure that cleanli-

ness. No crowd be it ever so highly civilised and educated, and its instinct ever so cleanly, can possibly remain cleanly when brought to-

gether for any length of time, unless special arrangements and regulations are made for the sanitary condition of the encampment. It could

not occur in Europe, and it should not be ex-

pected in India. But curiously enough in India the pilgrim is expected to be cleanly without

help, and because he is not, the blame is thrown on the pilgrim, and not, as it ought to he, on the authorities concerned. I he sanitary regulation of pilgrimages and festivals, whether large or small, occurring as they do in hundreds over

every part of India ought to receive the most

careful attention of Government. These reli-

gious ceremonies are part and parcel of the

inner life of the people, they are observances which bring to them joy and gladness, and they .are duties which they feel bound to perform. The

people themselves are grateful to the Govern-

ment that superintends its wants in a matter of

this kind. No pilgrims could be more grateful than those at the Hurdwar Khuinb and those present this year at the Magli Khumb. They go to their homes contented, and that contentment is shared

by their friends. More attention to detail, more forethought and more money spent on the

sanitary condition of holy places would lessen

-the necessity of breakiug up these gatherings on account of cholera outbreaks. The breaking

up of the Hur<lwar pilgrimage in 1892 on ac-

count of cholera, though, perhaps, a necessity (o prevent further disaster, caused much harm by the :il arm which it created among the pilgrims. It is difficult to say whether it could have been

avoided, but it is right to state that the same

precautions were not taken at the Hardwar

Fair of 1892 as were taken at the Hurdwar

Khumb of 1891, and this fact suggests to us two tilings which we think the Government should take into favorable consideration ; first, that a plan of sanitation based on the experi- ences of the two large Khumbs as supervised and directed by Dr. Hutcheson should be drawn up for the future guidance of sanitary officers; and secondlv, that in all large gatherings several me- ?' ' OP? r*>

dical officers should be deputed to be present to learn the management of such an encampment. With the exception of Dr. Giles there were no other sanitary officers officially present at the

Allahabad Khumb. We should have thought that at least half-a-dozen young medical men

ought to have been sent there to be taught and assist in the duties connected with the sani-

tary regulations of pilgrimages.