Planning and programming for a government-hosted mass-gathering event in India: the 2019 Prayagraj Kumbh Mela

India has a long tradition, going back to colonial times, in which governments play host to multi-week Hindu festivals, known as melas. In 2017, the newly elected head of Uttar Pradesh’s state government decided the 2019 mela in Prayagraj was to be more than a usual one: the experience of attending would be as magnificent as possible for as many as could attend. This would be a Kumbh Mela, a major focus for regional and local development in the state. Cleanliness would be a major goal, and preparations would get underway 18 months ahead of the event. This case is broadly about managing a programme of major projects in government in preparation for hosting a mass-gathering event – one that turned out to be the largest human gathering ever on the planet.