List of largest gatherings in history
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of the largest historic gatherings of people for a single event.
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[edit] Greater than fifty million people
- In January 2007, more than 70 million Hindu pilgrims from around the world are gathering at Hindu holy city of Prayaga (also known as Allahabad) in India for the Ardh Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious festival and also the world's largest gathering. [1]
- In January 2001, a reported 70 million Hindu pilgrims from around the world travelled to Hindu holy city of Prayaga in India for the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious festival and also the world's largest gathering.[2][3]
[edit] Greater than twenty-five million people
- In April 2004, Around 30 million Hindu pilgrims from all over the world travelled to Hindu holy city of Ujjain in India for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.[4]
[edit] Greater than ten million people
- In 1969 the funeral of C. N. Annadurai, a former Chief Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was attended by an estimated crowd of 15 million people.[1]
- In 1966, there was a mass gathering of Red Guards at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. The Gathering was estimated to be about 11 million people.
[edit] Greater than two million people
- On 14 January 2007, 5 million Hindu pilgrims paid homage at Sabarimala shrine in Kerala, India. [5]
- 5 million people attended the closing Mass of Catholic World Youth Day 1995 in Manila, Philippines.[2]
- More than 5 million people are reported to have attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome on 7 April 2005.[citation needed]
- The 5 February 1975 funeral of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum in Cairo drew a crowd in excess of 4 million.[citation needed]
- The crowd at the funeral of Egyptian President Nasser in Cairo on 1 October 1970 was estimated at 4 million.
- The Bishwa Ijtema, an annual Tablighi Jamaat Islamic movement congregation held at Tongi, Bangladesh in 2007 had attendees of about 3 million[3].
- The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales at Westminster Abbey, London on 6 September 1997, drew an estimated 3 million mourners.[citation needed]
- An estimated 2.56 million pilgrims made the annual Haj to Mecca in January, 2005.[citation needed]
- An estimated 2.5 million people from 144 countries are claimed to have participated in Silver jubilee celebrations of the Art of Living founded by Hindu spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bangalore, India on 17 February-19 February 2006.[6]
- An estimated 2 million people gather in the largest gay pride celebration in the world in São Paulo, Brazil. [7]
- Almost 2 million Lebanese opposition supporters took part in anti-government protests on December 10, 2006 in Beirut, Lebanon. Note that the Lebanese population is numbered at 4 million.
[edit] One million people or greater
- In 22 September 2006, 1.6 million Lebanese demonstrated in Beirut for the "victory rally" organized by Hizbullah. The number was estimated by the Lebanese Army.[citation needed]
- In February 2006, 1.5 million Hindu pilgrims in Malaysia gathered for the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves.[8]
- On 14 March 2005, an estimated number of 1.5 million Lebanese demonstrate in Beirut's city centre during the Cedar revolution after ex-prime minister Hariri's assassination on 14 February.
- On 13 March 2006, an estimated 1 million Hindu women pilgrims in world's biggest all-woman religious congregations, turned up to Attukal Devi temple in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state in India.[9]
- An estimated 1 million people participated in what is considered the largest procession in the history of New Delhi, India, on 8 October 1970, in commemoration of Hans Ji Maharaj, lead by his son Maharaji (now Prem Rawat}, who was 12 years old at the time.[4] [5]
- An estimated 2 million people attended the funeral of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga,the former Vice President of Kenya on January 20 1994.120 bulls were slaughtered in the funeral party which caused shortage of coca cola drinks in the country
[edit] References
- ^ Guinness Book Records, 1986 UK edition, Religions, accidents and disasters, p.219. Largest funeral : The funeral of the charismatic CN Annadurai (died 3 February 1969), Madras chief minister, was, according to a police estimate, attended by 15 million people.
- ^ Guinness Book of World Records - Largest Papal Crowd
- ^ Three million Muslims join mass prayer in Bangladesh seeking peace; The Associated Press Published: February 3, 2007
- ^ Navbharat Times, 10 November 1970 (from Hindi original) "A three-day event in commemoration of Sri Hans Ji Maharaj, the largest procession in Delhi history of 18 miles of procession; it culminated in a public event at India Gate, where Sant Ji Maharaj addressed the large gathering"
- ^ Hindustan Times, 9 November 1970 (English) "Roads in the Capital spilled over with a 1,000,000 processionists, men, women and children marched from Indra Prasha Estate to the India Gate lawn."
