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Collective participation and social identification: A study of the individual, interpersonal and collective dimensions of attendance at the Magh Mela.

  • Start date: 16 November 2009
  • End date: 15 September 2012

The project brings together UK and Indian researchers to study one of the world’s most remarkable collective events – the Magh Mela at Prayag (Allahabad, Northern India). For a month each year hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims gather on the banks of the Ganges, and, although the site is crowded and noisy, it appears that Mela is ordered, harmonious and joyful. The researchers are interested in how this is possible and will explore

  1. the social dynamics shaping the experience of such participation, and,
  2. the longer-term consequences of this collective experience.

The project draws on a tradition of social psychological research into group process which recognises the importance of collective identities in self-definition. Typically, this work focuses on how an individual’s identification with a group impacts on their group activity. We know much less about how participation in group-related activity impacts back on identification. Moreover, we know little about other outcomes – such as how involvement in identity-related social activity impacts on physical and mental well-being. Our aim is therefore to use the Mela in order to develop a broader psycho-social model of the pleasures of collective participation.

Grant holder

Dr Nicholas Hopkins

Programme name

None

Co - applicants

Professor Stephen Reicher

Professor Mark Levine

Dr Clare Cassidy

Grant amount

£448,633.27

Grant reference

RES-062-23-1449

Institution

University of Dundee

Discipline

Psychology

Grant type

Research Grant