PRAYAGRAJ: PM Modi said Friday that Maha Kumbh 2025 would become a “Maha Yagya of unity” and take the spiritual and cultural identity of the country to new heights.
The PM addressed a public meeting at Maha Kumbh mela ground after inaugurating 167 projects, collectively worth Rs 5,500 crore, to improve the city’s infrastructure and provide better amenities to pilgrims during Maha Kumbh. The projects include four corridors – Akshayvat corridor, Hanuman Mandir corridor, Bhardwaj Ashram corridor, & Shringverpur Dham corridor.
“Once an individual comes to Maha Kumbh, everyone becomes one, be it saints, sages, or common man, and differences of caste and sects end,” he said. The PM said “during Maha Kumbh every kind of discrimination is sacrificed and every devotee who takes a dip in confluence represents a beautiful picture of Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat”.
Modi said Prayagraj, which hosts Maha Kumbh every 12 years, is not just a geographical location but a place for spiritual experience where confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers plays a pivotal role in uniting people from all walks of life.
Modi said that Prayagraj, the land of Nishadraj, held a significant place in Lord Ram’s journey to becoming Maryada Purushottam. The Maha Kumbh will be held from Jan 13 (Paush Poornima) to Feb 26 (Maha Shivratri). It will be the world’s largest religious gathering; 40 crore people are expected to attend the 45-day event. The 2019 Kumbh had seen a footfall of 24 crore.
Modi claimed that when modern communication channels did not exist in the past, “Kumbh became a foundation for significant social changes where saints and scholars gathered to discuss the nation’s welfare and deliberated on present and future challenges, thereby providing new direction & energy to the country’s thought process”.
“In current era too, Kumbh retains its importance as a forum where such discussions continue, sending positive messages across the country and inspiring collective thought on national interest and welfare,” he said.
PM launches AI chatbot to assist Kumbh visitors
PM Modi launched the ‘Kumbh SahaAIyak’ chatbot that aims to enhance the journey of devotees visiting Maha Kumbh. UP CM Yogi Adityanath had instructed officials to prioritize the digital transformation of the event.
The ‘Kumbh SahaAIyak’ chatbot will provide devotees with instant access to all information related to the Maha Kumbh. Available in 11 languages, the chatbot will assist visitors by providing essential details – such as navigation, parking, and accommodation – in seconds.