MAHAKUMBH NAGAR, Jan. 26 -- In 1954, Indian Railways adopted a unique code-based crowd management strategy at railway stations for the smooth conduct of the first Kumbh Mela in free India.

Records at Regional Archives show for first-class passengers, whose count was very few, special waiting rooms were made available at platforms.

For the "third class" ticket holders, who travelled in 'General' compartments, enclosures were set up tagged with symbols. These tickets had specific symbols such as cow, axe, fish, aeroplane/elephant, monkey, snake and tree printed on the back. Volunteers at railway stations, on the arrival of trains, were instructed to guide passengers to their respective enclosures marked with the same symbol.

For instance...