India, Feb. 21 -- The ongoing Mahakumbh-2025 is witnessing a growing presence of women, reflecting their increasing engagement in religious and social spheres. A research team from the Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute (GBPSSI) is studying this evolving trend and has made preliminary observations on changing participation patterns.

Led by institute director professor Badri Narayan and associate professor Archana Singh, the 17-member team is stationed at various entry points and bathing ghats, interacting with attendees to understand their perspectives. Their initial findings suggest that women comprise over 40% of the attendees, with a notable presence of those aged 18-35, particularly from urban areas.

A key trend observed i...