List of largest peaceful gatherings in history

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This is a partial or incomplete list of the largest historic peaceful gatherings of people in one place for a single event. For brevity, gatherings in excess of 1 million are recorded.

Contents 1 Over ten million 2 Five to ten million 3 Two to five million 4 One to two million 5 Methodology 6 See also 7 References

[edit] Over ten million

• An estimated 60 to 70 million people gathered over 45 days in Allahabad, India for the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest gathering in January 2007.^[1][2]
• An estimated 30 to 40 million people gathered in Ujjain, India for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela on April 5, 2004.^[3]
• An estimated 15 million people attended the funeral of C. N. Annadurai in Tamil Nadu, India in 1969.^[4]
• An estimated 12 million people gathered at the funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran, Iran on June 3, 1989.^[5]
• An estimated 10 to 14 million people visited the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq during Arba'een in 2009.^[6][7]

[edit] Five to ten million

• An estimated 9 million people visited the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq during Arba'een in 2008.^[8]
• An estimated 6 million people came to welcome Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran, Iran on his return to Iran on 1 February 1979.^[9]
• An estimated 5 million people gathered in Sabarimala, India on 14 January 2007.^[10]

[edit] Two to five million

• An estimated 4 million people attended the funeral of Umm Kulthum in Cairo, Egypt on 6 February, 1975.^[11][12]
• An estimated 4 million people attended the closing Mass of World Youth Day 1995 in Manila, Philippines.^[13]
• An estimated 3 million people marched through Rome, Italy in opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in the largest anti-war rally in history on February 15, 2003.^[14][15]
• An estimated 3 million people attended a parade in Boston, USA celebrating the Boston Red Sox's victory on October 30, 2004. The victory ended an 86 year drought of world series championships and ended the era of the famous Curse of the Bambino for the Red Sox.^[16]
• An estimated 3 million people attended the annual feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila, Philippines on January 2008.^[17][18][19]
• An estimated 2 to 4 million people are reported to have attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy on 7 April 2005.^[20][21]
• An estimated 2 to 3 million people gathered to rally in defense of workers rights in Rome, Italy on March 23, 2002.^[22][23][24]
• An estimated 2.7 million people attended the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2000 in Rome, Italy.^[25]
• An estimated 2.6 million people made the annual Hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia in January 2005.^[26]
• An estimated 2.5 million people participated in a beatification mass held by Pope John Paul II in Błonia Park, Kraków, Poland.^[27]
• An estimated 2.5 million people participated in the São Paulo Gay Pride Parade that took place in June 2006 in São Paulo, Brazil.^[28]
• An estimated 2 million Hindu women gathered at the Attukal Temple in Kerala, India on 4 March 2007, making it the largest gathering of women in history, overtaking the record set by the same festival on February 23, 1997.^[29]
• On 31 October 2008, close to 2 million people amassed in Philadelphia, USA in a rousing celebration parade for the Philadelphia Phillies’ victory in the 2008 World Series. The victory ended a 25 year drought of major sport championships and ended the era of the famous Curse of Billy Penn in Philadelphia.

[edit] One to two million

• On 20 January 2009 an estimated 1.8 million people attended the inauguration of Barack Obama in Washington DC, USA.^[30]
• On February 23, 1997, 1.5 million Hindu women gathered at the Attukal Temple in Kerala, India for what was at that time, the largest gathering of women in history,^[31] and earned the temple a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records (certificate pictured here). They brought cooking pots with which they prepared food as an offering to please a goddess.
• On 29 September 1979 an estimated 1.25 million people attended the a Papal mass in the Phoenix park Dublin, Ireland. This was over one third of the population of Ireland gathered in one field.
• On August 25, 2007, over 1 million revellers attended Love Parade in Essen, Germany.^[32]
• On 29 April 2007, Over 1 million Turkish people gathered in Istanbul, Turkey to protect secularism and to protest the government for their Islamic roots.^[33][34]
• On 13 May 2007, Over 1 million Turkish people gathered in Izmir, Turkey to protect secularism and to protest the government for their Islamic roots.^[35]
• On 22 April 1990, 750 thousand to 1.5 million people gathered in Central Park in New York City, USA to celebrate Earth Day.^[36][37]
• On 8 October 1970 an estimated 1 million people participated in what is considered the largest procession in the history of New Delhi, India, in commemoration of Hans Ji Maharaj, lead by his son Guru Maharaj Ji (now Prem Rawat), who was 12 years old at the time.^[38][39]
• On March 14, 2005, 1.2 million people (30 percent of Lebanon's 4 million population) gathered in Beirut, Lebanon to demand an end to the peaceful Syrian military presence in Lebanon. This event is known as the Cedar Revolution.^[40]
• On 14 April 2007, 300 thousand to 1.5 million Turkish people gathered in Ankara, Turkey to protect secularism and to protest the government for their Islamic roots.^[41]
• On 4 February 2008, 1 million Colombians gathered in Bogotá, Colombia to protest against FARC.^[42]

[edit] Methodology

The methods of determining how many people are at an event vary in accuracy. Without knowing the method used and its error potential, estimates can be very inaccurate.

• An estimate made by an untrained observer of a large crowd is potentially the least accurate. Often these estimates are a number pulled out of the air by the observer.
• Better is an estimate made by a trained observer. These are usually based on scientific principles and experience. Trained observers usually work for governmental or academic organizations.
• Scientific analysis of photographs and/or video images is usually considered to be even better. Based on the quality of the image, it is possible to do a physical "head count" or to estimate attendance based on the density of people within similar areas. This permits the estimation of people over large areas or where parts of the image are obscured. An extensive discussion of how images were used to estimate the number of attendees at the Million Man March can be found at the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University's website.^[43]
• The most accurate number is achieved when an actual count of ticket stubs and/or gate counts is used. Even this system has limitations. If the number is based on the number of tickets distributed or sold, people who get tickets and do not attend will affect the results. Similarly, people who get into the event without an actual ticket may not be counted. If the count is based on the number of stubs collected, those who get in without tickets will again not be counted, and there is no way to account for people leaving early, or leaving and re-entering using a second ticket.

[edit] See also

• Kumbh Mela
• Arba'een
• World Youth Day
• Hajj
• List of notable funerals

[edit] References