Kumbha Mela 2019 to be a global event: Tourism Minister
KJ Alphons, Union Tourism Minister for State said on Monday that the government is planning to launch a campaign for promoting Kumbh Mela across the country with a tag line ‘Chalo Kumbh Chalo’. The campaign may include releasing advertisements at major international airports of the country and organising the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 in Varanasi to lure the Pravasi Bharatiya delegates. The 49 day event, which happens at Allahabad will begin on 15th January 2019,
“The government is also planning to have a designated area for flag hoisting for around 192 countries expected to visit Kumbh Mela. Moreover, identification and development of holding areas for crowd control during the Mela tenure. Deployment of digital sign boards in the venue to guide visitors towards places of interest and propagation of vital information by government and law enforcement agencies,” said the Minister
Extensive arrangements have been made by the Uttar Pradesh government for the pilgrims who are expected to visit the Kumbh Mela. Widening of public roads, construction of parking spots in the vicinity of the Mela, provision of shuttle buses, digital signage for directions and for traffic control are in progress.
Construction of toilets and other amenities, setting up of LED lights in the Mela area, deployment of telecommunication services, banking services and ATMs in the Mela area and setting up of integrated command and control centres including CCTV cameras for the security of tourists are also underway.
Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river Ganges. Devotees believe that by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from sins liberating her/him from the cycle of birth and death. Millions of people reach the place without any invitation. The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis and visitors.
UNESCO has inscribed Kumbh Mela in 2017 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.