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Arguably, the world’s largest 4,000-hectare ‘tent city’ is underway in Uttar Pradesh (UP) to host the world’s largest congregation of humanity, an estimated 400 million pilgrims at the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025.
The convergence of 400 million people, equalling the combined population of the US and UK, during the auspicious 45 days of Mahakumbh in January-February 2025, would be 1.6 times the current headcount of UP, pegged at 250 million.
According to the UP government, the tent city, illuminated with 67,000 streetlights, will comprise 2,000 tents and 25,000 public accommodations to serve the tourists.
About 23,000 closed-circuit television cameras and an artificial intelligence-based chatbot system will complement the security detail for the temporary settlement, which will be manned by a dedicated brass of senior police and administration officials.
A string of road projects, temporary bridges, hospitals, markets, etc, will dot the proposed 25 sectors of the temporary tent city in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) district at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers.
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Devout Hindus consider Prayagraj one of the holiest cities, which grants salvation if one bathes at the Sangam.
Meanwhile, the Yogi Adityanath government is burning the midnight oil for a ‘green and smart’ Mahakumbh Mela with the entire area covered with 150,000 saplings.
The Prayagraj Kumbh Mela is anchored by the Prayagraj Mela Authority. While Mahakumbh Mela and Kumbh Mela occur every 12 and six years, respectively, Magh Mela is an annual affair.
UP Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath has already stated that Mahakumbh 2025 will be organised on a much grander scale than the Ardhkumbh 2019 when an estimated 240 million pilgrims converged on the holy city.
So far, the state has approved 384 projects worth Rs 7,500 crore for successfully hosting Mahakumbh 2025. The projects pertain to different departments including tourism, roads, bridges, health, medical, power, irrigation, etc.
More than Rs 2,200 crore has already been released by the state government for 250 projects.
Apart from the traditional channels of communication and branding, the Yogi government 2.0 is leveraging the power of social media for global branding of Mahakumbh 2025 as a vehicle for projecting Brand UP in all its aspects including cultural, religious, economic, and heritage.
Recently, UP Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra reviewed the ongoing projects and directed officials to ensure that the tourists were provided with the optimum level of safety, security, and convenience.
“The Mahakumbh 2025 will represent India and UP before domestic and international tourists, estimated to number a record 400 million. It is therefore imperative that the visitors carry pleasant memories of their stay,” he noted.
Compared to the expenditure purse of Rs 4,200 crore in Ardhkumbh 2019, there is an uptick of over 78 per cent with an allocation of Rs 7,500 crore for Mahakumbh 2025.
The preparations for Mahakumbh 2025 come in the wake of Ayodhya propelling itself to the global tourism map with the seamless Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of the Ram temple on January 22.
Mahakumbh 2025 will provide a strong footing to the Yogi government to bolster its ‘cultural nationalism’ agenda, which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the UP CM proudly wear on their sleeves.
Meanwhile, civil works on two mega infrastructure projects in UP, namely Jewar International Airport in Greater Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar district) and Meerut-Prayagraj Ganga Expressway, are in full swing and are likely to be commissioned by the end of the 2024 calendar year itself.
The CM has tasked officials with ensuring that the Expressway is completed before Mahakumbh so that the travel of a large number of visitors to and from Prayagraj is convenient.
After coming to power, the Yogi government 1.0 (2017-2022) renamed Allahabad as Prayagraj, thus reverting to its ancient moniker.
Moreover, the UP State Road Transport Corporation is looking to replenish its ageing fleet with 5,000 brand-new buses ahead of the Mahakumbh.
Besides, the state tourism department is setting up a ‘Digital Kumbh Museum’ to showcase the cultural heritage of India and offer insight into the mythological and historical significance of the Kumbh Mela.
It will feature galleries with spiritual themes, including the Spiritual and Kumbh Mela Interpretation Gallery, Samudra Manthan Gallery, and Akhada Gallery. The museum will comprise a food plaza and shops, allowing visitors to purchase literature and souvenirs related to the mela.
