List of largest gatherings in history

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This is a list of the largest historic gatherings of people for a single event.

[edit] Greater than fifty million people

• In January 2007, more than 70 million Hindu pilgrims from around the world gathered at Allahabad (also known as Hindu holy city of Prayaga) in India for the Ardh Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious festival and also the world's largest gathering. [1]

[edit] Greater than twenty-five million people

• In April 2004, Around 30 million Hindu pilgrims from all over the world travelled to Hindu holy city of Ujjain in India for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.[2]

[edit] Greater than ten million people

• In 1969 the funeral of C. N. Annadurai, a former Chief Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was attended by an estimated crowd of 15 million people.^[1]
• In 1966, there was a mass gathering of Red Guards at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. The Gathering was estimated to be about 11 million people.

[edit] Greater than two million people

• On 14 January 2007, 5 million Hindu pilgrims paid homage at Sabarimala shrine in Kerala, India. [3]
• 5 million people attended the closing Mass of Catholic World Youth Day 1995 in Manila, Philippines.^[2]
• More than 5 million people are reported to have attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome on 7 April 2005.^{[citation needed]}
• The 5 February, 1975 funeral of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum in Cairo drew a crowd in excess of 4 million.^{[citation needed]}
• The crowd at the funeral of Egyptian President Nasser in Cairo on 1 October, 1970 was estimated at 4 million.
• The Bishwa Ijtema, an annual Tablighi Jamaat Islamic movement congregation held at Tongi, Bangladesh in 2007 had attendees of about 3 million^[3].
• The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales at Westminster Abbey, London on 6 September, 1997, drew an estimated 3 million mourners.^{[citation needed]}
• An estimated 3 million people attended the New Life Korea conference hosted by Campus Crusade for Christ International in 1980, with Billy Graham as final day speaker.
• An estimated 2.56 million pilgrims made the annual Hajj to Mecca in January, 2005.^{[citation needed]}
• An estimated 2.5 million people from 144 countries are claimed to have participated in Silver jubilee celebrations of the Art of Living founded by Hindu spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bangalore, India on 17 February-19 February 2006.[4]
• Benny Hinn [5] has had several crusades where more than 2 million gathered.^{[citation needed]}
• An estimated 2 million people gather in the largest gay pride celebration in the world in São Paulo, Brazil. [6]
• Almost 1.5 million Lebanese opposition supporters took part in an anti-Syria protests on March 14, 2005 in Beirut, Lebanon that resulted the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon. Note that the Lebanese population is numbered at 4 million.
• On January 1948, over 2 million people gathered to attend the funeral of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

[edit] One million people or greater

• On 13 May 2007, 1.5 million Turkish people gathered in Izmir to protect Secularism and to protest the government for their Islamic roots.[7]
• On 29 April 2007, 1.5 million Turkish people gathered in Istanbul to protect Secularism and to protest the government for their Islamic roots.[8]
• On 14 April 2007, 1 million Turkish people gathered in Ankara to protect Secularism and to protest the government for their Islamic roots.[9]
• In February 2006, 1.5 million Hindu pilgrims in Malaysia gathered for the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves.[10]
• On 14 March 2005, an estimated number of 1.5 million Lebanese demonstrate in Beirut's city centre during the Cedar revolution after ex-prime minister Hariri's assassination on 14 February.
• On 22 September 2006, 1 million Lebanese demonstrated in Beirut for the "victory rally" organized by Hizbullah. The number was estimated by the Lebanese Army.^{[citation needed]}
• On 13 March 2006, an estimated 1 million Hindu women pilgrims in world's biggest all-woman religious congregations, turned up to Attukal Devi temple in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state in India.[11]
• On 22 April 1990, 1.5 million people gathered in Central Park in New York City to celebrate Earth Day.[12]
• An estimated 1 million people participated in what is considered the largest procession in the history of New Delhi, India, on 8 October 1970, in commemoration of Hans Ji Maharaj, lead by his son Maharaji (now Prem Rawat), who was 12 years old at the time.^{[4] [5]}
• An estimated 2 million people attended the funeral of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the former Vice President of Kenya on January 20 1994. 120 bulls were slaughtered for the funeral party.

[edit] References