Page 9 - Maha Kumbh Mela

Mahakumbh: UP CM to visit Prayagraj today, his first after stampede tragedy

During his visit, CM Yogi will welcome Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and participate in Mahakumbh-related programs with him

A pitcher of humanity: The evolving significance of the Kumbh Mela

Through history, the Mela has held different meanings for ascetics, the colonised, colonisers, and tourists-but all have been moved by its grandeur

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Maha Kumbh: Ganga Aarti in Varanasi on hold till Feb 5 amid crowd surge

Authorities have stopped the Ganga Aarti performed at the ghats of Varanasi for the general public till February 5, considering a surge in crowd. Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal has appealed to the people of Kashi not to leave their house unnecessarily and to cooperate with the devotees. Ganga Seva Nidhi President Sushant Mishra on Friday said the Ganga Aarti performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat will remain closed for the general public till February 5. Similarly, the committees performing Ganga Aarti at Sheetla Ghat, Assi Ghat and other ghats have also appealed to the general public, visitors and devotees not to come for it till February 5. A large number of devotees returning from Prayagraj Maha Kumbh are still stranded at Varanasi Cantt and Banaras railway stations. Many devotees said that they could not catch their train due to the excessive crowd. In addition, hundreds have stranded at stations due to the cancellation of some of the trains. Bobby Maya Limbu from Assam's Sonicpu

Maha Kumbh 2025: Locals of Prayagraj provide meals, shelter to pilgrims

Residents of Prayagraj have thrown their doors open to the hundreds of stranded and hungry after an incontinent surge in number of pilgrims arriving for the Maha Kumbh sent the city infra groaning under its weight. While the administration grapples with the crowd after the deadly stampede on Mauni Amavasya, the city's residents, businesses, and students have risen to the occasion, providing food, shelter, and transport help to the countless devotees arriving for a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. Dr Anjali Kesari, a local, summed up the sentiment: "In Allahabad, we don't see the Maha Kumbh pilgrims as outsiders, we are hosts and they are our guests." Speaking to PTI, she shared how her neighbourhood in Chowk, close to the railway station, banded together to serve food to weary pilgrims. "Yesterday alone, we distributed tea that took 80 litres of milk into its preparation along with snacks, while others prepared meals like tehri and dal-chawal for the pilgrims," she said. Many local

UP govt must provide medical care, food to Maha Kumbh devotees: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to provide medical care, food and clothes to devotees affected at the Maha Kumbh. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister's remark comes as at least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of one of the most auspicious days of 'Mauni Amavasya'. Giving suggestions to the state government regarding the arrangements at the Maha Kumbh, Yadav in a post on X said, "Appeal should be made to open dhabas at various places day and night for food and water and organize bhandaras." "Arrangements should be made to transport medical and paramedical staff from across the state to the people trapped in remote areas through two-wheelers of volunteers," he added in the same post. Yadav said, "Supply of petrol and diesel should be ensured to the vehicles trapped for miles

Mahakumbh devotees take refuge in Ayodhya's night shelters as influx grows

Devotees have praised the well-organised system, highlighting the cleanliness, safety measures, and accessibility of essential amenities

Maha Kumbh rush: Prayagraj airfares slashed by 50% after govt intervention

Prayagraj airfares drop 50 per cent after DGCA directive; airlines add more flights for Maha Kumbh 2025 as demand surges, ensuring better connectivity for millions of pilgrims

364 trains ran for Maha Kumbh devotees from Prayagraj on Jan 29: Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said 364 trains ran to various destinations from different stations of Prayagraj for the convenience of devotees returning home after taking holy dip in Sangam on the day of Mauni Amavasya on January 29. Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board provided zone-wise details of 364 train operations and said besides these 364 trains which originated from Prayagraj to different destinations, 77 trains arrived in Prayagraj from other places. "During the entire period of (Maha Kumbh) Mela, the Railways has planned to operate about 13,450 trains, which include 10,028 regular trains and more than 3,400 special trains," Kumar added. Vaishnaw said approximately 12 lakh devotees have reached their respective destinations with the help of railway services. "Officials from the Railway Board as well as from three concerning zones are continuously coordinating with the state government to provide adequate train services

About 3 mn foreign tourists to visit Mahakumbh Mela, says tourism minister

He stated that a total of 170 million people visited Mahakumbh on Wednesday, the 17th day of the 45-day festival, which runs from January 13 to February 25

Maha Kumbh: From insurance to FMCG firms, businesses tap into spiritual mkt

Banks, insurance firms, FMCG majors set up booths; hotel rates, airfares hit the roof

Maha Kumbh: IndiGo reduces airfares for Prayagraj, increases flights number

IndiGo on Thursday said airfares have stabilised for the Prayagraj flights and that the airline has significantly increased the number of flights on the route to 900 for the Maha Kumbh. There have been persistent concerns about soaring airfares on the flights to Prayagraj in the wake of rising passenger demand and the government has asked airlines to maintain air ticket prices as well as operate more flights on the route. Maha Kumbh, which commenced on January 13, will conclude on February 26. Besides the additional capacity that has already been activated, IndiGo said it is working on reallocating capacity from other parts of its network to add more flights, to cater to the influx of passengers. "The airline has also ensured to stabilise airfares and is committed to providing the best possible travel experience to all its customers," it said in a release. On Wednesday, sources said IndiGo has reduced the fares for Prayagraj flights in the range of 30-50 per cent. According to the

Mahakumbh: PIL in SC for safety measures, guidelines after stampede

Petition sought the direction that VIP movement shall not affect or create a danger to the common devotees' safety and maximum space for entry and exit of devotees at Mahakumbh shall be provided

CM Mohan Yadav orders proper arrangements for devotees at MP-UP border

Madhya Pradesh CM expressed his condolences to the people who lost their lives in the stampede at Maha Kumbh

No vehicles, VVIP access revoked: UP tightens rules after Kumbh stampede

Kumbh Mela stampede: After a stampede that killed 30, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced measures to improve crowd and traffic control at the world's largest spiritual gathering

Maha Kumbh stampede: CM Yogi reviews arrangements, issues fresh directives

Following the stampede at the Maha Kumbh on Mauni Amavasya Wednesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a slew of guidelines on crowd management, traffic flow, prevention of build-up of devotees and coordination among departments. He ordered the deployment of Ashish Goyal, who served as Divisional Commissioner of Prayagraj during Kumbh 2019, and Bhanu Goswami, a former Vice Chairman of ADA, to further strengthen the arrangements, according to an official statement. Adityanath asked the chief secretary and the director general of police to conduct a thorough review of the Maha Kumbh Mela arrangements on Thursday. "Every aspect related to security and public convenience must be carefully examined to ensure seamless arrangements for Basant Panchami," he said. He said the incumbent ADG and the District Magistrate of Prayagraj must ensure safe and smooth departure of every devotee. Five Special Secretary-level officers are being assigned to oversee operations, according to the ...

Govt asks reasonable airfares for Prayagraj, IndiGo cuts prices by 30-50%

Amid persisting concerns over exorbitant airfares for Prayagraj flights, the civil aviation ministry on Wednesday asked airlines to maintain reasonable prices, and sources said the country's largest carrier IndiGo has reduced the fares to Prayagraj in the range of 30-50 per cent. The development also comes on a day when Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said airfares for Prayagraj flights are "exorbitantly high" and urged aviation watchdog DGCA to take steps to reduce the prices. In the wake of the Kumbh Mela and resultant travel demand, airfares have surged for flights to Prayagraj and the civil aviation ministry had asked airlines to rationalise the ticket prices. On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, along with Secretary V Vualnam, DGCA Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, and senior officials met airline representatives regarding Prayagraj flights. They reviewed the "adequacy of air connectivity to Prayagraj from across the country while maintaining ...

At least 30 killed, 60 injured in Maha Kumbh stampede, says DIG Krishna

At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in a stampede that broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said. The pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh broke out as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days. DIG Vaibhav Krishna told a press conference here in the evening the stampede has left 30 dead and 60 others injured.

Maha Kumbh-bound stranded vehicles on MP-UP border keep govt on toes

A large number of vehicles carrying thousands of devotees to Maha Kumbh remained stuck on the border between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday due to a huge crowd in Prayagraj, officials said. The vehicles heading to Prayagraj have been stopped since late last night in various holding areas near Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, they said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in a post on X that food and accommodation arrangements were made for the devotees stranded in Rewa district. Rewa city is located 130 km from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Yadav said crores of devotees from all over the country and abroad were reaching Prayagraj to take a holy bath there on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday. In view of the festival, elaborate arrangements have been made for devotees on the Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border in Rewa, he said. "Due to heavy crowds in Prayagraj, vehicles of thousands of devotees are stuck at the border under Chakghat police station in ...

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