Photo of the week
In the crowd
Friday 18 January 2013
© Stephen Reicher
St Andrews researchers will play an important role in the ‘greatest show on earth’ this week when they descend on the shores of the Ganges for the annual Kumbh Mela.
Every January up to 100 million people gather to celebrate the Hindu festival, a remarkable spectacle that involves mass bathing and parades of gurus on thrones.
For four years a team of British and Indian researchers have been studying the event, seeking to understand how people treat each other, how they experience the crowd and what impact the crowd has on their everyday lives.
The research was led by Professor Stephen Reicher at the University of St Andrews, Dr Nick Hopkins at the University of Dundee and Professor Narayanan Srinivasan at the University of Allahabad.
The findings of the study – thought to be the largest ever social science collaboration between the UK and India – will be announced by Professor Reicher and his colleagues at a special event at Allahabad University on 24 January.