The preparations for the grand festival of Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s ‘Sangam Nagari’ Prayagraj. Expected to host over 40 crore devotees from across the globe, this 45-day festival, from January 13 to February 26 will showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions.
Dome City
In a perfect blend of modernity, grandeur and spirituality, a Dome City is being set up in Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. The fire-proof Dome City is almost ready and the rent of the cottages built in the Dome City will be up to Rs 81 thousand. A grand Dome City is being constructed in 3 hectares at a cost of Rs 51 crore. These Dome City cottages will offer a view of Sangam all around amidst the cold breeze. People will be able to see the Ganga and Yamuna rivers from inside the oval cottage. Its look has been kept like 360 degrees. The facility of attached toilet has also been provided.
Besides, tourists coming to Prayagraj Maha Kumbh will now be able to enjoy the panoramic view of Sangam through a speed motor boat. This service will start from the first week of January. It will be operated by the Tourism Department from the fort and Arail Ghat. Devotees will go to Sangam by boat, take a bath on the floating jetty there and then return.
In addition, the Tourism Department is running a special training program for Maha Kumbh. Under this program, guides, taxi drivers, vendors and sailors who take people on a tour of the city are being trained.
Special arrangements for cleanliness
As an estimated number of 40 crore devotees will be arriving in Prayagraj, maintaining cleanliness is a major concern for the administration. Keeping this in view, about 10 lakh green toilets are being installed in the entire Sangam area. The speciality of these green toilets is that they will not cause any dirt.
To keep Prayagraj Maha Kumbh clean, all the social organizations of Firozabad will collect and send 11,500 plates so that people do not use polythene and disposables.
Hospitals set in Mahakumbhnagar for devotees
In the Mahakumbhnagar in Prayagraj, special hospitals have been set up for devotees. Speaking about the Central Hospital, Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak said “The 100-bed Central Hospital established in the Parade area of Maha Kumbh Mela, is well-equipped with facilities including OPD, general ward, delivery centre, ICU and operation theatre. Separate wards have been set up for males, females and children. The hospital also has diagnostic centres such as X-ray, biochemistry lab and ultrasound.”
Notably, the people have started receiving treatment in this hospital. In the last two days, the hospital facilitated the delivery of a baby boy and a baby girl who with the consent of their families have been named “Kumbh” and “Ganga” respectively. The Deputy CM congratulated the two families. He said that 231 doctors in different categories have been posted in the hospital, in addition, para-medic staff has also been posted.
Railways to run 3000 special trains for Maha Kumbh 2025
On Monday, the Indian Railways announced that it is launching a mammoth operation to manage the Maha Kumbh 2025, with 3,000 special trains scheduled for service, including 560 trains on ring rail routes. North Central Railway manager Upendra Chandra Joshi said that 560 ticketing points are being established at nine major stations in Prayagraj, such as Prayagraj Junction, Subedarganj, Naini, and Prayag Junction. The official said that these ticketing booths, along with sites across the fairgrounds, are expected to issue approximately 10 lakh tickets each day, aided by a new feature that allows people to reserve tickets 15 days in advance.
World largest Trishul to be seen in Maha Kumbh
Among many attractions to be seen in the holy city during Maha Kumbh, a massive 151-feet tall Trishul has been installed at the Mauj Giri Ashram of the Juna Akhara of the Sanyasis who belong to the Shaivite tradition of Sanatan Dharma.
Security Arrangements
Advanced Surveillance systems have been installed to ensure safety and security. This includes AI-powered crowd density monitoring with over 340 experts at key locations. Thousands of CCTV cameras and drones will be utilized for aerial surveillance. Some of the cameras will be AI-powered. Moreover, facial recognition technology will be used at entry points for enhanced safety.
For fire safety, four Articulating Water Towers (AWTs) capable of tackling fires up to 35 meters high, and 30 metres wide will be deployed. Over ₹131 crores have been allocated for fire safety measures. The AWTs are equipped with advanced technologies, including video and thermal imaging systems, to prevent fire incidents and enhance safety.
For the first time, underwater drones capable of diving up to 100 meters will provide round-the-clock surveillance in the Sangam area. On the other hand, a team of 56 cyber warriors will monitor online threats. Cyber help desks are being set up in all police stations.
To enhance safety and disaster readiness, a State-of-the-art Multi-Disaster Response vehicle will be deployed. They are capable of handling situations ranging from natural disasters to road accidents. This includes a lifting bag with a capacity of 10 to 20 tons, enabling the rescue of individuals buried under debris, and specialized machines to lift and move heavy objects weighing up to 1.5 tons.
Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister AK Sharma on Monday said that all preparations have been made for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. He further stressed that this 2025 event will be “unique” and “divine”, guaranteeing an extraordinary experience for all
participants.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, “The Mahakumbh is starting from January 2025, but in reality, lakhs of people have already arrived at the Kumbh site. For this (Mahakumbh), we have made extensive arrangements… More than Rs 15,000 crore worth of projects have been implemented here. We have made all the preparations for the Kumbh… This time, the Mahakumbh will be unique, and divine, and I guarantee it.
The Mahakumbh held once every 12 years, is scheduled to begin on January 13 and conclude on February 26, 2025, in Prayagraj. The main bathing festival, known as the “Shahi Snan” (royal baths), will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni
Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami).
As part of the preparations for the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, Uttar Pradesh Police will use underwater drones for enhanced security.
Inspector-General of Police (IG) PAC East Zone Prayagraj, Rajeev Narain Mishra Speaking to ANI, said that an underwater drone was tested on December 25, and will be used by the water police and the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC).
“Efforts have been made to use all the new technology available to ensure the smooth conduct of this Maha Kumbh. In this sequence, an underwater drone has been tested today. It will be used by the water police and PAC. This is the kind of drone that can identify a person or object underwater. We can use it anytime as per our requirement. We are constantly making arrangements for all kinds of surveillance
in water,” IG Mishra said.
The Maha Kumbh 2025 will showcase a vibrant display of India’s cultural diversity from January 10 to February 24. The Uttar Pradesh Culture Department is finalising preparations to present the rich folk arts of India during this period, a press release stated.
The Culture Department will set up 20 small stages at key locations across Prayagraj, allowing tourists, devotees, and locals to experience the country’s diverse cultural heritage over 45 days. Folk dance forms from various states across India will be performed on these stages.