# What was the largest gathering of people ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464 "2012-02-20T22:35:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/21 "2013-01-10T05:51:02Z")
For a sporting event, this is one of my favorite trivia question answers: [Collision in Korea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collision_in_Korea) 340k people over 2 days. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/22 "2013-01-10T09:15:57Z")
Probably Hell. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/23 "2013-01-10T09:35:25Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > To those of us with names like Jean-Michel it’s a nails on a blackboard kind of joke, as so much of our time ends up being spent explaining that our name Is Not Jean Damnit (or, in my case, María) and requesting that it be corrected, sometimes in official documents such as entry visas, work contracts or school diplomas. You’d think after eight years at a school they’d know what a student’s name is! QFT Wife of a Jean-Something. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/24 "2013-01-10T14:19:23Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > … > When I’m in a stadium with 100k people, it gives me pause to think of the other 99,999 people all with their own lives… I sometimes think, when watching an old movie or newsreel with tens of thousands of people at a stadium or something, that “Just think, they’re all dead now.” Honest. I first heard the thought on MST3K. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/25 "2013-01-10T14:24:47Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > this might be more fun with pictures - [shot of the mecca crowd](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F2aVRfr4Y0Q/TGwYzacFhyI/AAAAAAAAA1A/1aIQWAdNha0/s1600/mecca-hajj.jpg). Wow. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/26 "2013-01-10T15:17:12Z")
> [@Jesus\_the\_Wizard](#): > > You’re welcome!!! Just pointing out that this was answered a year ago with the same link just up thread. Welcome to the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/27 "2013-01-10T17:38:13Z")
> [@Jesus\_the\_Wizard](#): > > Kumbh Mela is the answer: > > The festival is billed as the biggest religious gathering in the world. In 2001, more than 40 million people gathered on the main bathing day at Allahabad, breaking a world record for the biggest human gathering. > According to the Mela Administration’s estimates, around 70 million people participated in the 45-day Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, in 2007. > The previous Kumbh Mela, held in 2001 in Haridwar, was, before it occurred, estimated by the authorities to attract between 30 and 70 million people. > In 2001, around 1 million people from outside of India and from around the world participated in the Maha Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, with a total participation of approximately 60 million. > > [Kumbh Mela - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbh_Mela) > > You’re welcome!!! > :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)🙂 I heard a neat anecdote about the first large Kumbh Mela to take place under the British Raj. When informed that this very large gathering was to happen the uncomprehending Governor gibbered “But, but, who has invited them?” ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/28 "2013-01-10T17:44:41Z")
many interesting answers. i would like to see a little more specific tho - to say that ‘70 million gathered in 2007’ could mean 200,000 a day regarding Kumbh Mela it is posted " In 2001, more than 40 million people gathered on the main bathing day at Allahabad," later the same post states “around 70 million people participated… in Allahabad, in 2007…The previous Kumbh Mela, held in 2001 in Haridwar” So there were two in 2001 each of which had over 30 million participants? ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/29 "2013-01-13T19:37:27Z")
2001 was Allahabad. Haridwar was 2010 it could have been a simple typo. And the record (whatever it is) might be broken soon: The next Maha Kumbh Mela (Great Kumbh Mela - ) is coming up in Allahabad from Jan. 27th. Expect crazy imagery in your favorite news media! [Official site](http://kumbhmelaallahabad.gov.in/english/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464/30 "2013-01-13T22:39:21Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > To those of us with names like Jean-Michel it’s a nails on a blackboard kind of joke, as so much of our time ends up being spent explaining that our name Is Not Jean Damnit (or, in my case, María) and requesting that it be corrected, sometimes in official documents such as entry visas, work contracts or school diplomas. You’d think after eight years at a school they’d know what a student’s name is! Val Kilmer was seriously confused when he read about Jean valJean. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-largest-gathering-of-people-ever/613464.md?page=1)