Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 12: Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, is set to inaugurate Kalagram in the Maha Kumbh Mela area on Sunday, according to officials.
Kalagram, designed in the shape of 12 Jyotirlingas, has become a vibrant platform for showcasing India’s rich culture and traditions. The main entrance of Kalagram is an impressive 635 feet wide and 54 feet high. The initiative, organized by the Union Ministry of Culture, aims to provide a lively space for art and culture during the Maha Kumbh, and will be located in the Nagavasuki area of the event.
Meanwhile, devotees are gathering at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj to take a holy dip ahead of the Maha Kumbh 2025. The city is experiencing cold weather, with fog covering much of the area.
To ensure the safety of the millions of devotees expected at the event, Uttar Pradesh Police have implemented a multi-layered security system dubbed “impenetrable security Chakravyuh.” More than 1,000 police personnel, including 71 inspectors, 234 sub-inspectors, and 645 constables, have been deployed at 102 checkpoints along seven routes connecting Prayagraj to neighboring districts. In addition, 113 Home Guards/PRD jawans and three sections of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) are part of the security team. Advanced surveillance equipment, including 5 Vajra vehicles, 10 drones, and 4 anti-sabotage teams, are being used to monitor the routes around the clock.
The Maha Kumbh, which is being held after 12 years, is expected to draw over 45 crore devotees. During the event, devotees will gather at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the now-extinct Saraswati river, to take a sacred dip. The Maha Kumbh will conclude on February 26.
Key bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami).