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India has banned Selfies at the Massive Kumbh Mela Festival to enable people move and avoid potentially dangerous bottlenecks. Pilgrims are stopped form taking their own pictures. To achieve the motive of managing immense crowds, ‘no-selfie zones’ were set up at the one of largest Hindu festivals of India.

Before banning the selfie embargo at the Kumbh Mela, tests using a real crowd were instituted. The tests revealed that the flow of people slows down and bottlenecks form quickly if people take pictures of themselves at the world’s largest gathering.

CEO of a firm that is aiding authorities in the festival told the Indian Express, Sandip Shinde said, “They also climb to dangerous spots to take selfies.”

Sadly Crushes and stampedes are common at Indian gatherings. This is because of huge crowds overwhelming spaces and buildings, which are not actually designed to hold them. To avoid any sad incidents to occur at the Kumbh Mela, attendees will be prohibited from taking selfies at particular areas on particular days. Shahi Snan ritual is also one such day when tens of thousands of people take holy dip in the holy river Godavari. It is estimated at approximately 3 million people have visited the festive already at Nashik, while many more are expected.

-Sumana