New Guidelines and Special Trains Announced as Maha Kumbh Mela Sees Record Attendance
Prayagraj (The Uttam Hindu): With the increasing number of devotees at the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, new traffic and bathing guidelines have been implemented to ensure smoother operations, as per a recent release. Under the updated instructions, devotees arriving from the Parade Mela area will be able to bathe at the Sangam and the ghats built along the parade route. Similarly, those coming from the Jhunsi fair area can take a dip at the bathing ghats near Jhunsi, while devotees from the Arali side will have access to the designated ghats in that area. To reduce congestion, a 'No Vehicle' zone has been established throughout the entire Maha Kumbh region. Vehicles approved by Mela Police for devotees will be allowed into the area, while others must park at designated spots. Emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, and logistical vehicles for food and other services will also be granted access. The administration has appealed to all devotees to follow these new guidelines and cooperate with traffic police to ensure a safe and smooth experience for everyone. In addition, the Northern Railway has announced special Vande Bharat trains to accommodate the influx of devotees traveling to the Maha Kumbh. These trains will operate on February 15, 16 and 17 between New Delhi and Varanasi, passing through Prayagraj. The Vande Bharat Special Train 02252 will depart New Delhi at 5:30 AM (via Prayagraj at 12:00 PM) and reach Varanasi at 2:20 PM. The return service, Train 02251, will depart from Varanasi at 3:15 PM (via Prayagraj at 5:20 PM) and reach New Delhi at 11:50 PM the same day.
According to Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, the special Vande Bharat train is designed to provide devotees with easy access to the Maha Kumbh on the weekends, offering convenience for their holy dips. The Maha Kumbh Mela has been recognized by the Uttar Pradesh administration as the largest spiritual gathering in the world, with over 500 million direct participants. This massive turnout exceeds the population of countries like the United States, Russia, and Brazil, solidifying the Mela's status as the world's largest spiritual gathering. According to the local administration, over 17 million devotees participated in the Paush Purnima dip, followed by 35 million on Makar Sankranti, 76.4 million on Mauni Amavasya, 25.7 million on Basant Panchami, and 14 million on Magh Purnima. As of Friday afternoon, over 7.9 million devotees had taken a dip at the Triveni Sangam.
