Depending on your personality, large gatherings of people can be exciting or overwhelming.
From festivals to funerals, all kinds of events can end up with an unexpectedly large turnout.
So how massive can the largest gatherings of people be?
Today we’re going to take a look at 10 of the largest peaceful gatherings ever recorded in human history and rank them by the number of people who attended.
We will also learn some interesting facts about the reasons for each event.
Funeral of Gamal Abdel Nasser
Place: Cairo
Gamal Abdel Nasser was the second president of Egypt, leading a long political career that spanned from 1954 until his death in 1970.
His strong beliefs and leadership methods were a source of controversy, especially his decision to fight Israel twice.
However, his popularity grew as he promoted unity among his people and his funeral was impressively attended after he succumbed to a heart attack.
Gamal Abdel Nasser was the creator of the short-lived United Arab Republic that lasted from 1958 to 1961.
World Youth Day
Source: youtube.com
World Youth Day offers millions of religious youth the opportunity to meet the Pope!
In addition to being one of the largest gatherings ever, the 1995 World Youth Day event in Manila was also the first time an Asian country hosted the event.
Pope John Paul II began celebrating the event in 1986 in Rome, and it has been held every year since then.
World Youth Day is celebrated every year on Palm Sunday.
Place: Manila
Place: Manila
Reason: religious visit
Reason: religious visit
This papal visit to the Philippines had a massive turnout as six million people came to see Pope Francis speak in Manila for mass.
The weather was rainy and unpleasant, but that didn’t stop people from all over the Philippines from coming with candles to help promote the Pope’s message of peace and unity.
Funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini
Place: Tehran
Born Ruhollah Khomeini, this influential Iranian political and religious leader later attained the title of Ayatollah, which is reserved for leading Shiite scholars.
Khomeini had a history of being politically outspoken and strong-willed, having previously been arrested for opposing the Shah’s pro-Western views.
Source: dawn.com
The Arbaeen pilgrimage is a long walk that Muslims usually take every year in Karbala.
This pilgrimage is voluntary, unlike the Hajj, the obligatory journey to Mecca that all Muslims who can must make at least once in their lifetime.
Along with the pilgrims themselves, the Arbaeen Pilgrimage also attracts people who offer various services to those who make the journey.
Even non-Muslims were invited in 2017 to join the Arbaeen walk to make a statement of faith in humanity.
Funeral of C.
Place: Tamil Nadu
Reason: death of a politician
Reason: death of a politician
Source: ezhilisaiarasu.wordpress.com
The funeral of N. Annadurai was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records for its amazing turnout.
The Arbaeen pilgrimage is considered the largest annual gathering of people in the world, and its closest competitor is held only once every three years.
Many pilgrims who make the journey to Karbala come from Baghdad or even further afield, traveling for days on foot to visit shrines and other holy sites.
People who come to help pilgrims on their journey provide free food, first aid and even dental services as needed in a spirit of compassion.
Arbaeen is celebrated in honor of Husayn ibn Ali, who was the grandson and martyr of the Muslim prophet Muhammad who died in Karbala.
Place: Karbala
Place: Karbala
Place: Karbala
Date: 2015
Date: 2015
Date: 2015
Date: 2015
Date: 2015
Date: 2015
Date: 2015
Reason: religious holiday
Reason: religious holiday
Reason: religious holiday
Even the Hajj is dwarfed by the millions and millions of pilgrims who make the pilgrimage to Karbala, many of whom came from Baghdad.
Security in the Iraqi capital was high in 2015 compared to previous years, with most pilgrims needing to pass an inspection before they could continue on their way.
Attendance that year already broke records when it reached 22 million, and the numbers continued to climb after that.
The death of Husayn ibn Ali is cited as the event that caused the break between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
Place: Haridwar
Date: April 14, 2010
Source: wikimedia.org
Source: wikimedia.org
Source: wikimedia.org
Source: wikimedia.org
Source: wikimedia.org
Source: wikimedia.org
The religious gathering at the Kumbh Mela hears the Hindu myth of how the gods and demons fought for the elixir of immortality, spilling four drops of it on the earth that later became the sacred rivers where this gathering is now held.
Pilgrims who make the journey and attend the gathering believe they are bathing in the essence of immortality when they enter the sacred rivers.
Even religious hermits come out of seclusion to attend the Kumbh Mela.
Place: Prayagraj
Date: February 10, 2013
Date: February 10, 2013
Reason: religious gathering
Reason: religious gathering
Source: flickr.com
The 2013 Kumbh Mela gathering was the largest peaceful gathering of people ever recorded.
This Hindu ceremony is celebrated four times for every 12-year period.
The location of each meeting rotates between the four rivers that are considered sacred by those of the Hindu faith and attracts people from all walks of life to celebrate their faith.
Among those who attend are sadhus: holy men who undergo intense physical tests and remain naked throughout the year.
The 2013 Kumbh Mela gathering was so massive that it was deemed high-risk by the local health system.