Why crowds need thought
Large gatherings are part of religious life across Asia. Major festivals, full-moon observances, processions and the days around important anniversaries can draw very large numbers of people to a single temple, stupa or river bank. Being among them can be moving, and many pilgrims value the sense of shared devotion. It is also true that large crowds can be hazardous, particularly in confined spaces, on stairs and bridges, at entrances and exits, and during processions where movement is hard to control.
This article is general information. It is not safety, medical or legal advice, and every event is different. Follow the instructions of organisers, police and temple staff on the day.
Choose how and when you go
The first and most effective decision is whether to attend at the busiest time at all. Some travellers deliberately choose a quieter day, or arrive at dawn before the main crowds, and return in the evening. Others want to experience a festival such as Vesak or a processional event, and that is a reasonable wish; the crowd just needs to be handled with care. Descriptions of the Vesak festival, the Esala Perahera in Kandy, and the Kumbh Mela crowds illustrate the scale some events reach. Festival dates change from year to year and often depend on a lunar calendar, so check current dates and any official arrangements from local sources.
Before attending a busy event, consider:
- whether you or your companions have mobility, heart, breathing or anxiety concerns that make a crowd risky
- whether children or older people will be with you, and how you would leave quickly if needed
- the weather, since heat, cold and rain all make crowds harder, as covered in the pieces on heat on pilgrimage and monsoon travel considerations
- the transport and the route home, which may be crowded or closed
If an event is announced as restricted, ticketed or timed, follow those arrangements.
Before you go in
Agree a meeting point. Phones may lose signal or run out of power in large gatherings. Choose a clear, fixed landmark outside the main crowd, such as a gate or a well-known shop, and a time to meet if you separate. Make sure everyone knows the name of where you are staying.
Share contact details. Write your names, the guesthouse address and phone numbers on a card in the local language if possible, and give one to each member of a group. Children can carry a card or wear a wristband with a contact number.
Carry little. Take only what you need: some cash, a phone, any essential medication and water. Leave passports and spare cards in a secure place at your lodging unless you must carry them, and keep copies.
Dress for movement. Wear comfortable, modest clothing and secure footwear. Remember that at many temples you will remove shoes, and shoe areas can become chaotic, so think about how you will find your own. Temple dress code gives basics for respectful dress.
In the crowd
- Stay aware of exits. Note exits and open spaces when you arrive, and avoid positioning yourself in a bottleneck such as a narrow gateway or the foot of a stair.
- Keep to the edge when you can, rather than the dense middle, and go with the flow rather than against it.
- Avoid stopping suddenly in the middle of a moving crowd, including for photographs. Move aside first.
- Keep valuables secure. Crowded places are favoured by pickpockets. A cross-body bag worn in front, zipped pockets and avoiding the display of valuables are common precautions. See the article on personal security for more on everyday safety.
- Stay together. Hold hands with children, and keep older companions close.
- Respect the queue and the space. Pushing is both rude and dangerous. Pilgrims often queue patiently for hours, and local customs about the order of the line should be followed.
- Watch the mood. If a crowd becomes tense, begins to surge, or you feel pressure from behind, try to move towards an edge or an exit early rather than late.
If you fall or feel crushed, protect your chest and head and try to get back on your feet as soon as you can. If you see someone else fall, alert officials. This is general awareness and not a substitute for official instruction.
Follow official instructions
Organisers, police, volunteers and temple staff often have experience of the crowd patterns and may close doors, redirect flows or ask people to wait. Following those instructions promptly is among the most useful things any visitor can do. Where announcements are in a language you do not understand, watch what local people do and ask someone nearby. Never climb barriers or walls, and never push through a line of stewards.
Offerings, flames and fire
Crowds at temples often come with candles, incense and oil lamps. Keep clothing and hair away from flames, take care with loose scarves, and follow temple rules about where flames may be used. At night events, lighting may be poor, and ground may be slippery or uneven.
If something goes wrong
If you are separated, go to the agreed meeting point or seek out an official or first-aid post rather than wandering into the crowd. If someone is hurt, tell staff or emergency responders and give a clear location. Know the local emergency number before you go, and note where medical help is available. Check your insurance for cover in a medical emergency, as discussed in the article on pilgrim travel insurance.
Choosing calm
Crowd safety is mostly about small habits: planning, patience and willingness to leave. No precaution removes all risk, and conditions at a given event are uncertain. If a place feels unsafe, it is entirely acceptable to step away. Many pilgrims find that the quieter days at the same site, which are often just as meaningful, offer a calmer way to be there.