This world has over time witnessed a vast number of greatest gatherings in human history for various causes and purposes. From championing a cause to attending a religious festival and more, the trend of crowds of people gathering in a region for a while is not new.
What is the largest gathering of people on Earth?
There are thousands of contenders for this – and depending on who you ask – for an event that could take place over several days, or the largest grouping on a single day or anytime.
The most common response is usually Kumbh Mela, Hajj, and other religious gatherings.
My favorite for the non-religious is the Rod Stewart concert, Brazil, 1994 – 3.5 million. But then, as I said, it’s not the only competitor.
Which is the biggest gathering in the world 2022?
Arba’een Pilgrimage 17, Sep 2022, 21 million gathered in Karbala.
Largest religious gathering in the world in 2021
Arba’een Pilgrimage September 2021, 16.3 million gathered in Karbala.
Today we bring you a compilation of the greatest gatherings in human history whose massive crowds made headlines for days.
Here is a list of 10 of the largest gatherings in human history:
1. Kumbh Mela Pilgrimage
- Where: India
- When: 2013
Kumbh Mela is considered to be the largest religious gathering in the world. It is held every 12 years in Uttar Pradesh, a state in northern India. In 2013, 30 million Hindu pilgrims gathered to bathe during the event.
2. Arbaeen Festival
- Where: Iraq
- When: 2014
The Arbaeen Festival takes place in Karbala every year. In 2014, up to 17 million people from around the world gathered in Iraq to commemorate the death of one of Prophet Muhammad’s grandsons, Imam Hussain.
3. Funeral of CM Annadurai
- Where: India
- When: 1969
This funeral is considered the most prominent funeral gathering in human history. 15 million people attended the event in Chennai in memory of the ex-Prime Minister of Tamil Nadu. It became extremely popular after making Tamil the official language of the state.
4. Funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini
- Where: Iran
- When: 1989
About 10 million Iranians visited Tehran to mourn the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989. Several in attendance were crushed to death as the crowd became uncontrollable.
5. Papal Meeting
- Where: Philippines
- When: 2015
A crowd of six million people turned out to see the pope in the country, breaking the previous world record for a papal gathering of five million.
6. World Youth Day
- Where: Philippines
- When: 1995
More than five million people attended Pope John Paul II’s Sunday Mass (World Youth Day). The Pope had to be flown to the event by helicopter because authorities were unable to navigate the crowd on the ground.
7. Funeral of Gamal Abdel Nasser
- Where: Cairo
- When: 1970
It is believed that five million people attended the funeral of Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Egyptian president in Cairo.
8. Rod Stewart Concert
- Where: Brazil
- When: 1994
Rod Stewart drew a crowd of three and a half million to his rock concert, held in Rio de Janeiro.
9. Hajj Pilgrimage
- Where: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- When: 2012
About three million people reached Mecca to perform the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage in 2012. Many pilgrims slept on the marble floor outside the Great Mosque, the central point of the Islamic faith.
10. Anti-war March
- Where: Rome
- When: 2003
It is believed that about three million people marched through Rome to resist the US-led invasion of Iraq. It is recognized as one of the most prominent anti-war marches in history.
For more: https://thetopfacts.com/