Bhashini Powers Maha Kumbh 2025 with Multilingual Support in 11 Languages

Nearly 250 people went missing on Day 1 of Maha Kumbh 2025, which is expected to host 450 million visitors over 45 days. To address such challenges and ensure seamless assistance, the government has introduced Bhashini, a multilingual platform that bridges language gaps and provides real-time support to millions of attendees.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has integrated Bhashini, its language translation ecosystem, to provide multilingual support at Maha Kumbh Prayagraj 2025, a spiritual festival, taking place from January 13 to February 26. This initiative ensures seamless communication for millions of devotees in 11 languages, including Hindi and English.

Bhashini also powers  ‘Digital Lost & Found Solution,’ which offers real-time voice and text translation for registering lost or found items in native languages. Key features include multilingual chatbot assistance for inquiries, mobile app and kiosk integration to translate guidelines into local languages, and collaboration with police officers to enable effective communication with attendees.

Sah‘AI’yak Chatbot

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Kumbh Sah‘AI’yak chatbot leverages AI, built on the Llama model, to provide real-time information and navigation assistance. 

Features such as a Kumbh-specific glossary with over 400 curated terms and phrases unique to the Kumbh Mela, have been integrated to ensure accurate and culturally relevant communication. It also includes profanity flagging, fine-tuned pronunciation for Kumbh-specific and local words, and advanced language detection for both text and speech.

Kumbh Sah‘AI’yak app

The chatbot is also powered by Bhavish Aggarwal-led Krutrim. “This chatbot for #MahaKumbh2025 will redefine the experience of all the devotees in Prayagraj, marking a milestone in uniquely Indian cultural-tech convergence,” said Aggarwal in an earlier post.

The chatbot, which will operate on WhatsApp, will be powered by Bhashini, SamagraX, and Krutrim, offering multilingual support in over 10 languages. With features such as Google navigation, interactive conversations, and personalised GIF responses, the Sah’AI’yak chatbot aims to elevate customer experience. 

Furthermore, the Uttar Pradesh Police’s 112 helpline has adopted Bhashini’s ‘CONVERSE’ feature. This tool facilitates seamless communication between devotees and police officers by breaking down language barriers. 

Ahead of the Panchayat to Parliament 2.0 event, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla showcased the Sansad-Bhashini Speech-to-Speech translation system in a live demonstration. The test, conducted in collaboration with the Bhashini team and involving women representatives from Panchayats, highlighted the system's ability to provide real-time Hindi-to-six regional languages translation with minimal latency. 

AI at Kumbh

A number of AI-powered solutions are being implemented at the MahaKumbh to improve security and elevate devotee experience at the event. In addition to the multilingual Sah’ai’yak chatbot, AI-enabled surveillance cameras for crowd monitoring, underwater drones for river safety, smart parking management systems, and a genAI-powered virtual relationship manager for banking services. 

The event also features an immersive Digital Mahakumbh Experience Centre utilising AI, VR, and AR technologies. Additionally, AI is employed for cybersecurity measures and drone-based aerial surveillance, collectively ensuring a secure and well-managed environment for the attendees.