The much-awaited annual event of Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, is slated to be even bigger and better in 2019.
Where it is usually spread over a distance of a 20 km radius, the Kumbh Mela – set to begin on 15 January 2019 and continue till 4 March – is now going to sprawl across 45 km.
Mayor of Prayagraj (or Allahabad) Abhilasha Gupta Nandi confirmed this to PTI, saying: "The area of Kumbh Mela has almost doubled this time. Earlier, the Kumbh Mela used to be spread over an area of of 15-20 km. Now, the mela is spread over an area of 45 km.”
She also spoke about the Akshay Vat, a famous tree found inside the Prayagraj fort, saying that it is one of the four found across the country, that, according to folklore, “has the power to fulfil wishes.” She added that a new road leading to the tree is being built to facilitate pilgrims, PTI reported.
The Saraswati Koop is also located inside the Allahabad Fort. “An idol of Goddess Saraswati is being installed," Nandi said.
According to UP government officials, it is for the first time that devotees will be arriving in the city through land, air and water routes.
Also for the first time, an Integrated Control Command and Centre has been established in the Kumbh area.
Heads of 70 Missions Visit Venue Ahead of Preparations
Heads of Missions from over 70 countries have been invited by Ministry of External Affairs to attend the 55-day long Mela. In fact, earlier this month, as the preparations for the event were underway, the heads of these missions were given a day-long guided tour of the venue in Prayagraj on 15 December, Financial Express reported.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently said that it is the endeavour of the government that Kumbh turns out to be “darshaniye (worth seeing), adbhut (amazing), divya (divine) and bhavya (grand)“.
‘Kumbh Will be a Confluence of Culture’: Yogi
“Kumbh will prove to be a confluence of our age-old traditions and culture with modernity and technology. It will be a New India and New Kumbh. After former President Rajendra Prasad, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who visited Akshay Vat and Saraswati Koop. Ambassadors from nearly 70 countries had also visited Prayagraj to get a glimpse of the preparations for the mega event,” Adityanath had said, PTI reported.
(With inputs from PTI)
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