NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
NASA astronaut Don Pettit has captured a breathtaking view of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela from the International Space Station (ISS), sharing a glimpse of the world’s largest human gathering from space. Pettit, currently serving as a flight engineer for Expedition 72, posted photos of the iconic event on social media, captioning them: “2025 Maha Kumbh Mela Ganges River pilgrimage from the ISS at night. The largest human gathering in the world is well lit.”
The images showcase the sprawling pilgrimage along the banks of the Ganges River in Prayagraj, India, where millions of devotees are participating in the sacred event. The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is one of Hinduism’s holiest festivals, attracting visitors from across the globe for ritual bathing in the Ganges, believed to cleanse sins and grant liberation.
Pettit’s photos highlight the scale of the event, with bright lights illuminating the pilgrimage site, making it visible from space.
Pettit launched to the ISS aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft on September 11, 2024, accompanied by Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. The veteran astronaut is spending approximately six months aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting scientific experiments and maintaining the station’s operations.
