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NE SPIRITUAL BUREAU
PRAYAGRAJ, DEC 13
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated several development projects totaling ₹5,500 crore in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, here on Friday. These initiatives are part of preparations for Mahakumbh 2025.
During his visit, he participated in religious ceremonies at various sacred sites. These included performing rituals at the Sangam, Akshay Vata Vriksh, Hanuman Mandir, and Saraswati Koop.
Among the projects inaugurated are various infrastructure works, including rail and road improvements such as 10 Road Over Bridges, permanent ghats, and riverfront roads. These projects aim to enhance travel convenience in the area.
Reflecting on the magnificent scale and size of the Mahakumbh, the Prime Minister said that it is one of the largest gatherings in the world where lakhs of devotees are welcomed daily for the Mahayajna lasting 45 days and a whole new city is set up for the occasion. “A new history is being written on the land of Prayagraj”, the Prime Minister exclaimed. The Prime Minister underlined that the organization of Mahakumbh next year would take the spiritual and cultural identity of the nation to new peaks and said that such a ‘MahaYagya’ of unity would be discussed around the world. He conveyed his best wishes to the people for a successful organization of the Mahakumbh.
“India is a land of sacred sites and pilgrimages”, exclaimed Modi. He added it was a land of rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kaveri, Narmada and many other innumerable rivers. Describing Prayag as the confluence, collection, congregation, combination, influence and a power of the sacred flow of these rivers, the importance of many pilgrimage sites and their greatness, the Prime Minister said that Prayag was not just a confluence of three rivers, but more than that. Explaining the importance, he remarked that it has been told about Prayag that it is a pious time when the sun enters the house of Makar, then all the divine powers, nectar, sages and saints descend down to Prayag. He added that Prayag was one such place without which the Puranas would be left incomplete. He further noted that Prayag was one such place which was praised in the verses of the Vedas.
“Prayag is a place where there are holy places and virtuous areas at every step”, exclaimed Shri Modi. Throwing light on the cultural and spiritual significance of Prayagraj, the Prime Minister recited a Sanskrit shloka and explained, “The effect of the Triveni, the glory of Venimadhav, the blessings of Someshwar, the land of penance of Rishi Bhardwaj, the special place of Lord Nagaraj Vasu ji, the immortality of Akshayvat and the grace of God – This is what makes our Teertharaj Prayag.”
He further explained that Prayagraj is a place where all four elements of ‘Dharma’, ‘Arth’, ‘Kama’ and ‘Moksha’ are available. “Prayagraj is not just a geographical piece of land, it is a place to experience spirituality”, the Prime Minister said, expressing gratitude towards the citizens for getting to visit Prayagraj. He recalled taking a holy dip in the Sangam during the last Kumbh and also mentioned getting the opportunity today.
Speaking about his darshan and pooja earlier in the day at Hanuman Mandir and Akshayvat, the Prime Minister informed about the development of Hanuman Corridor and Akshayvat Corridor for easy access by devotees and also mentioned inquiring about the redevelopment project of Saraswati Koop. Shri Modi also congratulated the citizens for the development projects of today worth thousands of crores.
“Maha Kumbh is a living identity representing our legacy of the divine festival of our faith, spirituality and culture”, exclaimed Modi. He added that every time, the mega event symbolises the divine gathering of religion, knowledge, devotion and art. Reciting a Sanskrit shloka, the Prime Minister explained that a holy dip in the sangam is equivalent to visiting crores of pilgrimage places. He added that an individual taking a holy dip is rid of all his sins.
He highlighted the special emphasis on improving connectivity to Prayagraj from cities like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Raebareli, and Lucknow, ensuring ease of travel for pilgrims. The Prime Minister praised the collective efforts of multiple government departments in preparing for the grand event, demonstrating the ‘Whole of the Government’ approach in action.
In Prayagraj, the Prime Minister said, the Akshay Vat Corridor, Hanuman Mandir Corridor, and Bharadwaj Rishi Ashram Corridor reflect this vision, while sites like Saraswati Koop, Patalpuri, Nagvasuki, and Dwadas Madhav Mandir are also being revitalized for pilgrims.
Modi noted the significant advancements in technology that will shape the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025. He pointed out that compared to previous years, smartphone users have increased and data is much cheaper than in 2013. He said that with user-friendly apps available, even those with limited tech knowledge can utilize them easily, referring to the launch of ‘Kumbh Sahayak’ chatbot, marking the first use of AI and chatbot technology for Kumbh, capable of communicating in 11 Indian languages.
Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were present among other dignitaries.
