Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 15: Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday expressed that his visit to the ongoing MahaKumbh in Prayagraj was an emotional moment for him. He referred to the MahaKumbh as a “perfect example of India’s collective spirit,” underscoring its significance as the world’s largest religious gathering.
“It’s truly an emotional moment. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to visit MahaKumbh. This is the perfect example of the collective spirit of India… More than 50 crore people from India and abroad have visited the MahaKumbh and demonstrated India’s growing power,” Goyal said.
Recalling the visit of British rock band Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin to the event, Goyal shared that he had facilitated his visit during a trip to Belgium. “I was in Belgium when I got the information that Chris Martin of Coldplay wanted to visit the MahaKumbh. I called up the CM and made arrangements for his visit. He was so thrilled after experiencing this unique event. This will give a message of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ to the world and the country,” Goyal said.
Goyal emphasized that the MahaKumbh serves as a source of inspiration, particularly for India’s youth, encouraging them to reconnect with Hindu traditions.
Meanwhile, the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj saw a massive turnout of devotees, with a significant number gathering at the sacred Triveni Sangam for a holy dip. As of 9 am today, more than 3.324 million devotees had taken a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, according to Uttar Pradesh government data.
The Uttar Pradesh administration further highlighted that the MahaKumbh has become the first event in the world to have exceeded 500 million direct participants, surpassing the populations of major countries like the United States, Russia, Indonesia, and Brazil.
In response to the growing number of visitors, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued new traffic and bathing guidelines. Devotees coming from various areas, including Parade Mela, Jhunsi, and Arali, will be directed to designated ghats for their dips at the Triveni Sangam and surrounding bathing sites.