2019 Prayag Kumbh Mela

2019 Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela
English name	Kumbh festival 2019
Date	15 January – 4 March 2019
Duration	55 days
Venue	Triveni Sangam
Location	Prayagraj
Coordinates	25°25′52″N 81°53′06″E / 25.431°N 81.885°E
Also known as	Ardh Kumbh Mela
Type	Social practices
Theme	Festive events
Cause	Rituals
Motive	Religious pilgrimage
Budget	₹4200 Crores ($605,400,000)
Patrons	Ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis, and Pilgrims
Organised by	Prayagraj Mela Authority
Participants	120 million Hindu devotees
Website	kumbh.gov.in
	UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

The 2019 Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela was the Ardh Kumbh Mela held at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India from 15 January to 4 March 2019.^[3]^[1]

Governance

A bill was passed in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly to set up Prayagraj Mela Authority, a permanent body to oversee the mela. The divisional commissioner of Prayagraj serves its chairperson while the district magistrate and inspector general of police as the vice-chairpersons. Mela officers and other district officials are also the members of this authority.^[4]

Projects

Around ₹4200 crore was allotted by the state government for the Ardh Kumbh 2019, over two times more than it had spent on the last Kumbh held in 2013. About 199 projects of 16 government departments were completed under four phases which included a six-lane bridge over the river Ganga and a four-lane railway over-bridge worth ₹275 crore. The Public Works Department executed projects worth ₹430 crore including building an inner ring road in the city. ₹210 crore was spent on safe drinking water facilities and ₹60 crore to electrify the Kumbh area. Focus was also laid on solid waste management to ensure that Ganga water is not contaminated and putting up LED lights.^[5] Moreover, widening and beautification of 18 roads and 25 road crossings was completed before the deadline of October 2018.^[6]

Promotion

The logo of 2019 Kumbh shows a group of Sadhus bathing in the Sangam confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna. The Uttar Pradesh government has decreed that all state government documents, letterheads and publicity material, including advertisements and hoardings, should carry the new logo. Moreover, cinema halls in the state are directed to display the logo straight after the national anthem is played.^[7]^[8]^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b "Kumbh Mela 2019 Live Updates: Devotees Take Holy Dip In Sangam In UP". NDTV.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
^ ^a ^b Safi, Michael (15 January 2019). "Kumbh Mela: Hindus converge for largest-ever human gathering". The Guardian.
^ "The Triveni Sangam". Atlas Obscura.
^ "Bill to set up Prayagraj Mela Authority passed in UP Assembly". 22 December 2017.
^ Sharma, Aman (29 December 2017). "Kumbh 2019 work begins, officials arrive with men and machine". The Economic Times.
^ "मेट्रो सिटी की तरह होंगे शहर के चौराहे".
^ Sharma, Aman (14 December 2017). "Uttar Pradesh letters to carry Kumbh Mela logo". The Economic Times.
^ "UP cinema halls to show Kumbh logo before screening movies". 3 January 2018.

External links

Official Website
Kumbh Mela 2019 in Prayagraj: documentary photo of the largest religious gathering in the world. Archived 21 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine

[ndt1-1] "Kumbh Mela 2019 Live Updates: Devotees Take Holy Dip In Sangam In UP". NDTV.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.

[Guar1-2] Safi, Michael (15 January 2019). "Kumbh Mela: Hindus converge for largest-ever human gathering". The Guardian.

[3] "The Triveni Sangam". Atlas Obscura.

[4] "Bill to set up Prayagraj Mela Authority passed in UP Assembly". 22 December 2017.

[5] Sharma, Aman (29 December 2017). "Kumbh 2019 work begins, officials arrive with men and machine". The Economic Times.

[6] "मेट्रो सिटी की तरह होंगे शहर के चौराहे".

[7] Sharma, Aman (14 December 2017). "Uttar Pradesh letters to carry Kumbh Mela logo". The Economic Times.

[8] "UP cinema halls to show Kumbh logo before screening movies". 3 January 2018.

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