For free India's 1st Kumbh, Rlys printed 'cow', 'fish' on tickets

In 1954, Indian Railways adopted a unique code-based crowd management strategy at railway stations for the smooth conduct of the first Kumbh Mela in free India.

- Kenneth John [e-mail]

(iv) Volunteers and staff posted near the gates of Enclosures.—Direct the upper class passengers and other passengers having non-symbolled tickets to their respective entrances and waiting rooms. Direct third class "Ordinary" passengers to their proper enclosures by examining the symbols on the reverse of the tickets. Know the location of different enclosures and waiting rooms thoroughly so that you may have no difficulty in giving correct and prompt direction.

(v) The following is the distribution of enclosures together with symbols attached to each:

(i) At Allahabad-Sangam Station—

Enclosure No Symbol

1 Cow

2 Axe

3 Fish

4 Aeroplane and/or Elephant

5 Monkey

6 Snake

A snap of an official document from 1954 describing symbols for designated enclosures at Allahabad-Sangam station.