Page 4 - Prayagraj

Maha Kumbh Amrit Snan: 6.2 mn devotees take holy dip on Basant Panchami

Over 6.2 million devotees take holy dip at Maha Kumbh as UP government ensures zero-error safety measures amid massive crowd turnout

Mahakumbh: Days after stampede, seers laud arrangements for 'Amrit Snan'

Akharas led a grand 'Amrit Snan' on Monday which drew a sea of devotees to the Triveni Sangam at the Maha Kumbh on Basant Panchami, with seers praising the arrangements made for the auspicious occasion. The third Amrit Snan assumed special significance as it came after the pre-dawn stampede on January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), which claimed at least 30 lives and injured 60 others. Shaken by the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government had stepped up its crowd management system, and safety, medical and transport arrangements, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directing officials to ensure a "zero-error" Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami. Till 8 am on Monday, over 62 lakh devotees had taken a dip at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati here, according to the government. As the Amrit Snan continued without any reported incident, Adityanath, who himself is a monk, was in for some praise from the seers, an official statement said. "On this holy festival of Basant Panchami,

News Highlights: Ayodhya sees massive influx of devotees on Basant Panchami

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SC to hear plea seeking safety measures for devotees at Mahakumbh on Feb 3

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea seeking implementation of specific guidelines and regulations to ensure safety of devotees attending the Maha Kumbh where at least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in a stampede on January 29. According to the cause list on February 3 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar is slated to hear the PIL filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari. The petition seeks to prevent stampede incidents and protect the fundamental rights of equality and life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The plea, which made the Centre and all the states as parties, has sought a direction to the Centre and the state governments to work collectively in ensuring a safe and secure environment for devotees at the Maha Kumbh. It said all states should establish facilitation centres at Prayagraj to provide safety information and assist their respective residents in emergencies. It also sought

Ensure 'zero errors' for Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami: UP CM to officials

Ahead of Monday's Amrit Snan at the Maha Kumbh on Basant Panchami, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to ensure "zero errors" in arrangements. During a review meeting in Prayagraj on Saturday, he said the traditional 'shobha yatra' of 'akharas' should be conducted with grandeur and all necessary preparations completed on time, according to a statement. The chief minister highlighted the importance of security and said the safety and convenience of everyone should be ensured. He also directed the officials to increase parking space and ensure that devotees had to walk as little as possible. Senior police officers should be assigned to manage traffic at key locations, he said. Adityanath stressed that Sunday and Monday would be critical and said no VIP protocol would be in place before, during or after major bathing days. The directions came after at least 30 people died and 60 were injured in a stampede that broke out on Wednesday when the area c

Grateful to MEA for this opportunity: Foreign diplomats on Mahakumbh visit

Diplomats from around the world expressed their excitement and gratitude to India for the opportunity to experience it's rich cultural heritage firsthand at Mahakumbh

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

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

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

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

Mahakumbh stampede, ISRO, X partner with Visa, Congress manifesto & more

Multiple people are feared dead after a stampede-like situation at the Sangam during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Thousands had gathered today for a holy bath on Mauni Amavasya.

Amid skyrocketing airfares to Prayagraj, govt asks DGCA to lower prices

To ease the situation, DGCA officials met with airlines and asked them to regulate ticket prices

Pralhad Joshi urges DGCA to reduce high airfares to Prayagraj for Kumbh

Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has written to aviation regulator DGCA seeking reduction in "exorbitant" airfares to Prayagraj, which is hosting the Maha Kumbh Mela till February 26. The minister expressed concerns over high airfares, making it difficult for devotees to travel to the religious gathering. "The prices of airfares being exorbitantly high has made it difficult for people to make travel plans to attend Maha Kumbh," Joshi said in a social media post. Earlier this month, travel portal ixigo said bookings as well as airfares for flights to Prayagraj have jumped multi-fold as more people travel for the Maha Kumbh, with the air ticket prices rising up to 21 per cent for the Delhi-Prayagraj flights. The civil aviation ministry on Monday said steps are being taken to rationalise airfares. DGCA officials held a meeting with airline representatives last week, urging them to add more flights and rationalise ticket prices. Currently, 132 flights are operating with about .

GATE, JAM 2025: Prayagraj exam centres shifted to Lucknow amid Maha Kumbh

IIT Roorkee has changed the exam centres in Prayagraj to Lucknow for the upcoming GATE and JAM exams 2025 due to the ongoing Maha kumbh mela. The exams is scheduled for February 1 and 2

AAP blames mismanagement for Maha Kumbh stampede, urges end to VIP culture

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday blamed administrative mismanagement for the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh, calling for an end to VIP culture and stricter crowd management. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh, during a press conference, described the scenes from the religious gathering as "scary." Multiple casualties occurred when a stampede broke out in the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday, as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. Referring to videos circulating on social media, Singh said, "I saw a woman desperately trying to give oxygen from her mouth to her family member to save him. This is heartbreaking." Singh also pointed out that Mahamandaleshwar Premanand Puri Ji had urged authorities to hand over the event's arrangements to the army, but his request was rejected. "We never wanted to comment on this, but the reality is clear -- VIP culture is the main problem. Roads are being closed for VIP ..

Stampede at Maha Kumbh mela: A look at India's deadliest incidents

A deadly stampede at Uttar Pradesh's Maha Kumbh mela raises fresh concerns over crowd control at religious gatherings. Here's a look at India's worst stampede incidents

Maha Kumbh stampede: Seer questions 'prioritising' of VIPs over public

A stampede at the Maha Kumbh's Sangam on Mauni Amavasya left many injured after a barrier collapsed, prompting Akharas to cancel the Amrit Snan