The Kumbh mela will start with the first shahi snan of Makar Sankranti on January 15 next year and conclude with the last bathing of Mahashivratri on March 4 here, making it a 49-day affair.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath along with office bearers of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) announced the dates of shahi snan on Saturday. It was the first time that a serving chief minister joined the ABAP office bearers in announcing the dates of the mega religious event. Usually Akhara Parishad office bearers announce the dates.
Adityanath along with ABAP president Mahant Narendragiri and general secretary Swami Harigiri announced the dates of ‘Shahi Snan’ after an hour-long meeting with officials of Prayagraj Mela Authority and saints of different akharas in Circuit House in the evening.
According to the schedule, the second shahi snan will be on Mauni Amavasya on February 4 and the third on Basant Panchami on February 10.
The other three official bathing dates will fall on Paush Purnima on January 21, Maghi Purnima on February 19 and Mahasivratri on March 4. Earlier, the CM arrived from Lucknow at Police Lines helipad and reviewed the ongoing construction of 1.1 kilometre long flyover between Cariappa Dwar and Eklavya crossing.
Sadhus of Kriya Yog Akhara take out religious procession at the bank of Sangam ahead of Maha Kumbh Mela (festival), in Allahabad. (Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times)
Adityanath directed officials of UP Bridge Corporation to complete the construction by November and ensure quality work. The UP Bridge Corporation had come under fire last week after a flyover under construction collapsed in Varanasi killing 15 people and injuring dozens of others.
Adityanath also reviewed ongoing work of widening of Nawab Yusuf road besides other preparations for the Kumbh mela at Fire Brigade and Bakshi Band crossings and at Sangam.
The CM later chaired a joint meeting of ABAP, office bearers of Prayagraj Mela Pradhikaran and senior administrative officials besides BJP MLAs at Circuit House.
Postal Department To Deploy Boats
Meanwhile, the Postal Department has decided to provide its services on boats to facilitate thousands of Kalpvasis who live an austere and minimalist life during the Kumbh mela.
Under the initiative, the postal department plans to install letter boxes on boats to collect letters from Kalpvasis camping in different sectors of the tent city during the mega religious event. The department will set up 12 temporary post offices in the mela kshetra for the convenience of millions of pilgrims arriving during Kumbh.
Officials feel that the arrangement will especially be helpful to thousands of Kalpvasis who will be camping in the tent city for more than one month during the Kumbh.
“As thousands of devotees do Kalpvas for long one month to attain salvation during Kumbh, they hardly want to move from one place to another. They want to devote their time in meditation and other kind of religious activities. Under this arrangement, they can drop their letters in a much convenient way, saving precious time,” said senior post master, General Post Office, Allahabad RN Yadav.
He said that there will also be one postman each deputed on boats to collect letters from Kalpvasis and guide them accordingly.
Source: HindustanTimes