PM’s vision made Maha Kumbha truly global event, says UP CM Yogi Adityanath

PRAYAGRAJ: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said here on Thursday that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi made Maha Kumbh "a truly global event".

Addressing journalists at the media centre during his 'thanksgiving' trip to the city, a day after the conclusion of the Maha Kumbh, the CM said: "Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj truly became a global event, and the credit goes to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His vision has helped us successfully execute this grand event, and you (the media) have played a crucial role in conveying its significance to the country and the world. For this, I sincerely thank you."


He also highlighted Modi's concept of integrating faith and economy, stating that spiritual tourism holds immense potential, with UP emerging as the most suitable state to harness it.

Highlighting the dedication of media professionals, he added, "I observed that whether it was day or night, morning or evening, freezing cold or scorching heat, the media never stopped. Either the Ganga was flowing, or the media was. Your positive role helped Maha Kumbh move forward towards creating new records."

Yogi highlighted the state's immense potential in spiritual tourism, which has been successfully demonstrated in recent years. "Last year alone, UP welcomed 65 crore devotees and tourists to various pilgrimage sites," CM Yogi said.

"They visited Ayodhya Dham, Kashi, Mathura-Vrindavan, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Maa Vindhyavasini Dham, Gorakhpur, Shukteerth, and Naimisharanya." He further stated that Prayagraj alone witnessed 66.3 crore tourists and devotees in just 45 days, setting new records.

He also pointed out how Maha Kumbh has helped establish five major spiritual tourism circuits in the state. "Prayagraj has now connected five key spiritual destinations: one from Prayagraj to Mirzapur and Kashi, another to Ayodhya and Gorakhpur, the third to Lalapur, Rajapur, and Chitrakoot, the fourth to Lucknow and Naimisharanya, and the fifth via Bundelkhand Expressway and Agra to Mathura-Vrindavan."

The CM highlighted the global participation saying that representatives from 100 countries visited Prayagraj during the past 45 days. "This includes ambassadors and high commissioners from 74 nations, ministers or heads of state from 12 countries, and devotees from across the world who became part of this grand event," he added.

The CM mentioned that the double-engine government invested approximately Rs 7,300 crore in the Maha Kumbh for various infrastructure projects. "Over 200 roads, 14 flyovers, 9 underpasses, and 12 major corridors were developed," he stated.

Highlighting the massive workforce involved, he said: "To ensure smooth arrangements for devotees, we engaged nearly one lakh personnel within Prayagraj City, who played a key role in making this event a grand success."

Highlighting the use of technology, the CM said: "The entire fair was integrated with facial recognition technology, utilizing nearly 3,000 CCTV cameras and AI tools. This enabled real-time tracking of visitors, identifying individuals, and even counting how many people took a holy dip." He also mentioned, "From Lucknow, I was able to monitor all activities in Prayagraj with a 360-degree view."

About the event's economic impact, he said: "With an investment of Rs 7,500 crore, we achieved a growth of ₹3.5 lakh crore. The world is watching this with curiosity and amazement. This has even become a subject of new research. I am continuously receiving letters from national and international institutions asking for insights on crowd management and the integration of faith with the economy."


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