The sacred Hindu festival, Purna Maha Kumbh, occurring every 144 years, is the world’s biggest religious festival and largest human gathering. The 2025 festival held in Prayagraj this January attracted an unprecedented crowd of 663 million, and amidst this vast congregation authorities were faced with the significant challenge of reuniting children separated from their families. In response to the critical need for effective systems to address this, DSP Mutual Fund partnered with Dentsu Creative India, in association with Falco Robotics, to launch ‘Garuda Rakshak’. Using pioneering application of drone technology for search-and-rescue, this solution also overcomes traditional limitations in emergency response efforts due to mobile network congestion from crowd density allowing no margin for error. Given the dangers associated with prolonged separation, especially concerning child exploitation, swift action during the “golden hour” is imperative.
The development and deployment of Garuda Rakshak exemplify a remarkable collaborative effort, bringing together the expertise and resources of multiple organizations to address the critical issue of child separation during the Purna Maha Kumbh festival – a gathering that attracts millions of devotees from across the world. With such large crowds and the chaos that comes with the event, the risk of children getting separated from their families is high, making it a significant challenge for both attendees and authorities. Dentsu Creative India spearheaded the development of the technology, building the system from scratch under the leadership of Gurbaksh Singh, Chief Innovation Officer, Dentsu Creative India. Falco Robotics contributed by donating the drones essential for the operation of the system. DSP Mutual Fund provided the necessary funding for the project, aligning with their ‘Invest for Good’ philosophy. Additionally, Dentsu Creative India was responsible for designing the logo and constructing the kiosks used during the festival. This synergy of technological innovation, generous contributions, and strategic funding culminated in a pioneering solution aimed at swiftly reuniting lost children with their families amidst the vast crowds of the festival.
Ancient Wisdom Meets Cutting-Edge Innovation
Inspired by Garuda, the celestial guardian of Hindu mythology, this pioneering technology is a fusion of tradition and modern engineering to prevent permanent separation and child exploitation. Garuda Rakshak leverages 1970s marine navigation technology, integrating an 8-bit communication method that transmits critical updates over kilometers using less than 1 kilobyte of data.
How Garuda Rakshak Works
- Deployment: The expansive 4,000-hectare Purna Maha Kumbh grounds are segmented into four zones, each monitored by a Garuda Rakshak drone stationed at Lost & Found centers.
- Identification: Low-cost wristbands are distributed to children and their guardians upon arrival.
- Activation: In the event of a missing child report, guardians can tap their ID bands at the Lost & Found Centre to activate the Garuda Rakshak system.
- Location Tracking: The child’s wristband transmits a signal with precise GPS coordinates.
- Rapid Response: Flying at speeds of 80 km/h, the Garuda Rakshak drone locates the child within minutes and deploys an extendable color marker high in the sky for easy identification.
- Rescue Coordination: Real-time details are transmitted to on-ground rescue teams, who promptly proceed to the child’s location.
- Mission Continuation: Upon successful reunification, the drone resumes its patrol, ready for subsequent missions.
Transforming Crisis Response at Mass Gatherings
Initial reports indicate that Garuda Rakshak has significantly improved response times and increased confidence among law enforcement and public safety officials in managing large-scale events. The success of this initiative paves the way for its application in other high-density gatherings and crisis situations, offering a scalable solution to enhance public safety.
Unprecedented Results
- 78% of children were traced within 5 minutes.
- Every lost child wearing a wristband was successfully reunited with their family.
Garuda’s Legacy Continues
Just as Garuda once safeguarded the divine nectar, Garuda Rakshak now protects lives – ensuring lost children are located by officials and reunited with guardians swiftly. By blending technology with tradition, this initiative is redefining public safety at mass gatherings and the potential application of Drone technology, often mistrusted, for good.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India said, “The Kumbh in Prayagraj is a divinely majestic event, and with the integration of digital technology, it can be made even more convenient and accessible for all visitors. This vision shaped the comprehensive planning efforts. After the successful conclusion of the Kumbh, I am pleased to share that the Garuda Team’s use of technology to safely reunite lost children with their families was truly commendable and worthy of appreciation. I would also like to see the Garuda Team operate on an even larger and more expansive scale during the upcoming Kumbh events in Ujjain and Nashik.”
Abhik Sanyal, Head of Marketing, DSP Asset Managers said, “At DSP Mutual Fund, we believe that investing goes beyond chasing monetary gains- it’s about bettering lives, communities, and inspiring hope. Backing an idea like Garuda Rakshak truly resonates with our belief that the most meaningful solutions to real problems of today can sometimes be found by those willing to dip into the wisdom of the past. For us, this initiative of hope came straight from the heart, while still embodying, perhaps even elevating our commitment to DSP’s ‘Invest for Good’ philosophy. Because the most meaningful returns are found in the safety, love, and smiles we can help bring back to the world.”
Vishal Dixit, CEO, Falco Robotics commented, “The integration of drone technology with Garuda Rakshak’s offline navigation system has resulted in a truly pioneering solution, uniquely equipped to handle the complexities of such extraordinary, high-density events. We’re excited to see the difference it makes.”
Gurbaksh Singh, Chief Innovation Officer, Dentsu Creative India added, “In an era dominated by IoTs, we’ve taken a step back to draw inspiration from the past and fused it with new-age drone automation that not only saves lives but also restores hope and reassurance to families in their most vulnerable moments. By developing an entirely offline system, we eliminate reliance on congested networks, ensuring no margin for error during critical rescue operations. This project showcases the transformative power of technology when driven by human compassion and a relentless pursuit of a safer, more caring world.”
