This Week in Explainers: How over 64 crore devotees at Maha Kumbh were counted

It was an important week for India. New Delhi continued trade talks with two key partners this week – the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). India is discussing a separate free trade pact with both.

In Uttar Pradesh, the world’s largest religious gathering – the Maha Kumbh Mela – came to an end after 45 days. The congregation attracted crores of devotees from across India and beyond. From common people to prominent personalities, everyone rushed to bathe in the Triveni Sangam during the mela.

Moving to Kerala, a horrific case of mass murder came to light. A young man killed five people, including his kin and girlfriend. He also attacked his mother, who survived.

Here is all this and more in our weekly wrap from India.

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi to boost ties between India and the EU. As United States President Donald Trump threatens a 25 per cent tariff on European imports and taxes other countries, it has sparked fears of a global trade war.

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The EU is looking at India to secure its economic and strategic interests amid rising uncertainties and global tensions. The meeting comes days after Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in Delhi to discuss a trade deal, nearly a year after they were stalled due to elections in both countries. We take a look in this explainer why Europe needs India more than ever now.

2. The Maha Kumbh Mela concluded on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri as devotees and pilgrims took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. The religious gathering drew crores of people to Prayagraj. According to the government, over 64 crore flocked to the city to take part in the 45-day mela.

Hindu devotees gather to take ritualistic dips at the Sangam on Shivaratri in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, February 26, 2025. AP

The state government deployed advanced technologies, including AI-enabled cameras and CCTV surveillance, to count the number of people visiting the Maha Kumbh. Here’s how AI was used to calculate crowd density at the Maha Kumbh.

3. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been in the news here since President Donald Trump’s claim that $21 million (Rs 182 crore) was granted for “voter turnout in India”. His allegations have sparked a political row as both the ruling alliance and the opposition attack each other.

This week, India’s Finance Ministry revealed how $750 million (Rs 6,501 crore) of funding in 2023-24 by USAID was spent on seven projects, none related to voter turnout. The US bilateral assistance to India for development projects began in 1951 and was mainly administered through USAID. We explain in this story the funding in numbers and how it was spent in India.

4. Kerala was shocked as a case of mass murder came to light. A 23-year-old man killed his four relatives and girlfriend. After the killings, he went to Venjaramoodu police station in Thiruvananthapuram rural district, confessing to the police that he killed “five or six persons.”

The young man first attacked his mother in their home in Perumala village. Believing her to be dead, he went from house to house to kill his other victims. However, his mother survived. Here’s our story on the brutal case.

5. The historical drama Chhaava has not hit all the right notes. While it has created buzz, the film based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj has been criticised for the portrayal of the historic Shirke family of Maharashtra.

'Chhaava' movie shows the Shirke brothers betrayed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Wikimedia Commons

The descendants of Maratha commanders Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke have slammed the makers of the movie for the depiction of their ancestors. The film shows that the Shirke brothers betrayed Sambhaji, which resulted in his capture by the Mughals. But is this true? Read our story to find out.

6. Idli is seen as one of the healthiest options to eat. However, the Karnataka Food Safety Department has found cancer-causing substances in idlis by some hotels and vendors in the state.

This has led to a government regulation on how the staple is prepared. What is it? We explain in this report.

This is all we have for you this week. If you like the way we explain news, you can bookmark this page.