The Kumbh Mela, world’s largest religious congregation began in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on 15th January 219, the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, with almost two crore people taking the holy dip at the Sangam. Around 12 crore devotees and saints are expected to visit the 55-day festival that will end on 4th March.
The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Cartosat-2 on 17th January shared pictures captured from the space that showed important areas in and around the Kumbh Mela. The Cartosat-2 series satellite was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and was one of the 104 satellites that were sent into space together. The black and white pictures from the satellite clearly show the Sangam - the confluence of 3 holy rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Saraswati.
ISRO is also helping in providing daily weather prediction for the Kumbh Mela 2019, for which the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has set up mobile stations.
The Yogi Adityanath government has made massive arrangements, including modern facilities, basic amenities and tight security in Prayagraj for the convenience of pilgrims at the Kumbh Mela. The government has also made temporary bus stations at all 7 entry points of Prayagraj city.
In addition, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has also deployed 6,000 buses to carry pilgrims from one place to another. Kumbh Mela that takes place every six years was earlier known as 'Ardh Kumbh' but Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath government had changed its name to Kumbh and also renamed the gathering that occurs every 12 years as 'Maha Kumbh'.
The government has spent around 400 million dollar to refurbish the city's infrastructure for the Mela. The tented city of Kumbh is extended over a 32-square kilometre area and is larger than the Vatican City in Rome.
An important point to mention here is that Kumbh was also included in the list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ by UNESCO in the year 2017.
