NASA astronaut Don Pettit has shared breathtaking images of Prayagraj lit up for the Maha Kumbh from the International Space Station (ISS). The grand religious event being held at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj has caught the attention of millions across the world.
Pettit, currently a part of the Expedition 72 crew, is known for his exceptional astrophotography. He posted the images on X, writing, “2025 Maha Kumbh Mela Ganges River pilgrimage from the ISS at night. The largest human gathering in the world is well lit.”
The tent city in Prayagraj near the Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati Rivers—can be seen shining from space.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held once every 144 years, is renowned for its massive gathering of pilgrims and its deep spiritual significance. The ISS, orbiting at 28,000 km per hour above Earth, captured the event’s glow using its high-powered cameras.
The internet has since exploded with reactions to the stunning photos.
According to a Times of India report, the images shared by Pettit showcase a well-lit, expansive Mela area, with the Sangam Nose standing out as the most illuminated spot. The mighty Ganga distinctly separates the three main segments of the Mela.
On the left side lies the stretch from Akbar Fort to Sangam Nose, extending westward along the river past Nagvasuki up to sectors 6 to 9. On the east side of the river, which includes sectors 16 to 20 and houses most of the akharas and religious organizations, the area is also brightly lit.
A thin layer of lights marks the Arail side of the Maha Kumbh Mela, located on the Yamuna’s banks and stretching up to sector 25. The highway connecting ‘Kumbh Nagri’ (Prayagraj) appears as a serpentine line in the images.
Pettit, known for inventing the first patented object created in space, the ‘zero-gravity cup’, spent 555 days aboard the ISS. “At 69, he is considered NASA’s oldest active astronaut,” says the TOI report.
Pettit is accompanied on the ISS by fellow astronaut Sunita Williams and others. Williams and her colleague Barry Willmore have been on the ISS for over 10 months after their mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was extended, now scheduled for late March this year.
The Uttar Pradesh government allocated Rs 400 crore to ensure uninterrupted electricity during the 45-day festival, which began on January 13, reported NDTV.
It has installed 182 km of high-tension lines, 40,000 rechargeable bulbs, and AI-driven security features such as 2,700 CCTV cameras and underwater drones at the Triveni Sangam.
