Nasa astronaut clicks illuminated pictures of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj

NASA astronaut Donald Pettit has shared stunning images of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, captured from the International Space Station (ISS) as it flew over India. The breathtaking photos showcase the massive scale of the pilgrimage, which has already drawn over 110 million people in its first 14 days. This spiritual gathering, held every 12 years, is expected to continue attracting millions of devotees from around the world until its conclusion on February 26, 2025.

The Mela is visible from space due to the extensive lighting used for the event, illuminating the large gathering of millions of pilgrims at the Ganges River. High-resolution satellite imagery, like that from NASA's VIIRS, can capture such large-scale human activities due to their capability to detect artificial light emissions, distinguishing them from natural light sources

"2025 Maha Kumbh Mela Ganges River pilgrimage from the ISS at night. The largest human gathering in the world is well lit," Mr Pettit wrote on X. The astronaut, 69, is currently aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 72.