PANAJI
The Uttar Pradesh government chose Goa, a rival tourism hotspot, to launch a road show promoting the upcoming Mahakumbh-2025 in Prayagraj. Scheduled in March 2025, the once-in-12-year spiritual ceremony is expected to draw millions of devotees and international visitors.
With Goa's mix of tourists and locals, Cabinet Ministers Dara Singh Chauhan and Ramkesh Nishad extended an invitation to Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Speaking to the media after concluding the road show in Panaji on Thursday, Chauhan stated that its government is taking significant steps to ensure the event is historic, featuring international participation and state-of-the-art facilities.
“This year’s Mahakumbh will surpass the previous one in both grandeur and divine essence. Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025 is expected to welcome over 450 million pilgrims, saints, ascetics, and tourists. In preparation, the Uttar Pradesh government has made meticulous and timely arrangements,” he said as the road show coincided with the ongoing decennial religious event in Goa -- Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier.
Chauhan stated that the Mahakumbh embodies the spirit of India's cultural and spiritual consciousness and is a divine and vibrant representation of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshth Bharat-Samaveshi Bharat (One India, Great India, Inclusive India).
Just like Old Goa, Mahakumbh has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
He highlighted that special emphasis has been placed on making Mahakumbh Mela 2025 both clean and green. About three lakh plants have been cultivated across Prayagraj, with the Uttar Pradesh government pledging to ensure their care and maintenance even after the conclusion of the Mela.
“It would be a clean, healthy, safe and digital Mahakumbh. A pledge has been taken to make the event environment-friendly by declaring it a single-use plastic-free Mahakumbh. As part of this initiative, various shops of dona-pattal vendors will be allocated within the Mela area, and meetings have been conducted with principals of 400 schools to discuss cleanliness and the initiative of a clean Maha Kumbh is being communicated to 4 lakh children and 5 times the population of Prayagraj.
Furthermore, under the 'Har Ghar Dastak' campaign, the message of a single-use plastic-free environment is being delivered to every household,” he added further citing comprehensive healthcare services for pilgrims, sadhus, saints, and tourists.
