Crores of devotees are set to gather for the world’s largest religious event, Maha Kumbh, beginning on January 13, 2025, on the holy banks of Sangam in Teerthraj Prayagraj. Alongside prioritising the convenience and safety of pilgrims, the Yogi Adityanath government is placing a strong emphasis on their health through the establishment of Netra Kumbh, a special initiative dedicated to eye care.
Spread over nine acres, Netra Kumbh targets to examine the eyes of more than five lakh devotees and distribute three lakh pairs of glasses simultaneously. Furthermore, for the first time, eye patients identified during these examinations who require surgical interventions will be able to undergo free operations at hospitals located near their homes. This will be possible thanks to agreements signed with over 150 hospitals across the country.
Netra Kumbh organising committee chairman Kavindra Pratap Singh, emphasised that for the first time in the history of Maha Kumbh, patients referred by doctors for eye surgeries will be able to receive free operations at a hospital in their district or home.
“After examination, patients will receive referral cards, one of which will be sent to the respective hospital while the other will go to Saksham, the organising body of Netra Kumbh. Patients or Saksham workers can coordinate the surgeries based on convenience, both during and after the (Maha Kumbh) fair,” he added.
Singh described Maha Kumbh as a “symbol of social harmony” and highlighted that Netra Kumbh represents a “mass eye treatment maha yajna” aimed at addressing vision-related issues among devotees. He confirmed that doctors from the Indian Army would also volunteer their services free of cost, offering free examinations, medicines and refreshments to eye patients.
Netra Kumbh was first organised in 2019 and since then it has grown substantially. During the 2019 Kumbh, the event entered the Limca Book of World Records by providing glasses to 1.5 lakh people and examining three lakh patients. This year, the scale of Netra Kumbh is expected to break the previous records, becoming the largest event of eye examinations and glasses distribution in any religious or medical event worldwide.
Netra Kumbh media coordinator Dr Kirtika Agarwal said that the initiative would be set up in the Mela area near Nagvasuki temple in Sector 6. Netra Kumbh will run daily from January 12 to February 26, excluding the main bathing festival.
Dr Agarwal noted that the event seeks to raise awareness about vision-related health challenges and provide services to individuals who have lost their sight due to a lack of awareness.
She added that approximately 150 doctors from outside the region will provide their services throughout the 45 days of Netra Kumbh, supported by 400 additional medical professionals. On any given day, 40 doctors will operate the Outpatient Department (OPD) from 8 am to 2 pm, with an extension up to 4 pm if needed.
In addition to the 40 doctors in the OPD, there will be more than 500 optometrists, out of which 100 will provide services daily. This combined team of 200 medical professionals and volunteers will be available to examine and treat eye patients daily throughout the fair.
