Post Maha Kumbh Stampede Tragedy, Muslims Opened Mosques, Schools For Pilgrims (X image @iSubhamAgrawal)
During the aftermath of Maha Kumbh tragic stampede, mosques in Prayagraj opend up mosques to the pilgrims, providing shelter, food, and blankets. While thousands gathered for the Mouni Amavasya Amrit snan, heavy barricading and collapsing of arrangements caused stampede killing many, and injuring several.
Reportedly, mosques in at least 10 areas of Prayagraj lend help to the confused and panic stricken pilgrims. On 29 January, Muslims in over 10 areas of Prayagraj extended help, opening mosques, shrines, dargahs, imambaras, and their homes to accommodate 25,000 to 26,000 pilgrims, reported Vartha Bharati.
As per Dainik Bhaskar, the stampede left thousands stranded as highways were jammed, halting buses and forcing many to spend the night on the streets. The following night, residents of Khuldabad, Nakhhas Kohna, Roshan Bagh, Himmatganj, Rani Mandi, and Shahganj welcomed pilgrims into their homes. Mosques like Khuldabad Sabzi Mandi Mosque, Bada Tazia Imambara, Himmatganj Dargah, and Chowk Mosque turned into temporary shelters, said the report.
Also Read: Maha Kumbh 2025: Prayagraj, Ayodhya Airfares Higher Than Other International Destinations
Viral video on social media platform showed Maha Kumbh pilgrims taking refuge at the Jama Masjid premises in Chowk. The video was by city-based social activist Zaigham Khan, and featured the religious site offering shelter to 150 devotees.
When media contacted, Jama Masjid imam Rais Akhtar confirmed it, saying: “Some 100-150 Hindu devotees stayed in the mosque premises, some in corridors, others near stairs”.
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Gates of Yadgar-e-Husaini Inter College in Chowk Kotwali were also opened for the pilgrims. About 500 devotees took shelter in the college, and people of Rani Mandi locality brought sheets and blankets from their homes, while some served them tea and biscuits, reported Times of India. Number of madrasas were also opened for the devotees.
Imam Hasan of Hafiz Razzab mosque told the outlet that “Insaniyat se bada kuchh nahi. Mazhab nahi sikhata apas me baer rakhna (There is nothing greater than humanity. Religion does not teach us to hate each other). We gave shelter to around 300 Hindu devotees in the mosque compound at night. Many namazis came forward to help them by offering blankets, tea and snacks”.
The Friday sermon at the mosque was also dedicated to communal harmony. “During recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in the divide between Hindus and Muslims. I urged namazis to not have negative sentiments and always help ‘musafirs’ (travellers) irrespective of caste and religion”, the Imam said during the sermon, as quoted by TOI.
#महाकुंभ2025 में कुंभ के दौरान अव्यवस्था और भारी भीड़ के कारण श्रद्धालुओं को मस्जिद में शरण लेनी पड़ी। वहाँ इमाम साहब और स्थानीय लोगों ने गंगा-जमुनी तहज़ीब और भाईचारे की अनूठी मिसाल पेश करते हुए भोजन और ठहरने की व्यवस्था कराई।
इमाम साहब के इस सेवा भाव को दिल से नमन#MahaKumbh pic.twitter.com/XquiCWZGbK
— Subham Agrawal (@iSubhamAgrawal) January 30, 2025
A Muslim family came forward to the rescue of 40 devotees from Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar by sheltering them in their six-bedroom house. Talking to TOI, Akhtar Abbas, a businessman, said, “A day after the unfortunate stampede at Maha Kumbh, we were busy distributing veg biryani, tea, sohan-papri on GT Road, when there was an announcement that the crowd should not move towards the railway station as it is already packed… There was madness on streets with people finding nowhere to go. In the midst of this chaos, we found a group of helpless pilgrims, mostly women and children, from Bikaner, Ranchi and Gaya at around 11.30pm and gave them a shelter in our house”.
Also Read: Stampede At Maha Kumbh 2025: At Least 30 Dead, 60 Injured
Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, Mohammad Irshad of Bahadurganj (Daira) said, “After the stampede, we saw thousands struggling in the freezing night. We immediately opened mosques and dargahs, welcoming as many people as possible into our homes. We ensured they had food and a place to stay. They were our guests in Prayagraj, and we did our best to look after them”.
