Uttar Pradesh hosts the costliest Kumbh Mela ever

Guwahati: India is hosting the costliest Kumbh Mela ever as the Uttar Pradesh government has allocated a whopping Rs. 4,200 crore for arranging the Mela. Held in the ‘sangam’ city of Allahabad, the Kumbh Mela this year is costing thrice the budget of the Maha Kumbh that was held in 2013.

State Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal, speaking about the arrangement made for the Kumbh Mela this year, stated, “The UP government has allocated Rs. 4,200 crore for 2019 Kumbh Mela. The previous state government had spent around Rs 1,300 crore for the Maha Kumbh, which was held in 2013.”

Apart from the Uttar Pradesh government, other departments have also allocated funds for the mega event. The funds collected from various departments for the mela this year along with a pretty huge area being allocated for holding the event. An area of 3,200 hectares has been provided for the festival this year which was only 1,600-hectare area in the previous melas. Along with a whopping sum and a pretty huge area being allocated for the festival, this has also been ensured by the UP government that all enhanced facilities are being made available for the public.

The Kumbh Mela has been observed in India for many more years with a gap of several years. The event witnesses the largest public gathering with people keeping faith in Hindu mythology gathering in the world. The Ardh Kumbh is held in every six years, while the Kumbh Mela comes after 12 years. Now as per the name-changing traditions of the Uttar Pradesh government led by CM Yogi Adityanath, the Ardh Kumbh is renamed as Kumbh and the Kumbh is named as Maha Kumbh.

As per the rituals, the devotees gathered in the mela participate in 48 days bathing ritual at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati River. The devotees taking part in the worship includes Ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis and other pilgrims.

As per the schedule of the Kumbh Mela this year, the six auspicious bathing dates are - Makar Sankranti (January 15), Paush Poornima (January 21), Mauni Amawasya (February 4), Basant Panchami (February 10), Maghi Poornima (February 19) and Mahashivratri (March 4).

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