Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela, 2019 is the Ardh Kumbh Mela to being held at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India from 15 January to 4 March 2019. A bill was passed in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly to set up Allahabad Mela Authority, a permanent body to oversee the mela. The divisional commission of Allahabad serves its chairperson while the district magistrate and inspector general of police as the vice -chairpersons. Mela officers and other district officials are also the members of this authority. Around ₹4200 crore will be allotted by the state government for the Ardh Kumbh 2019, over two times more than it had spent on the last Kumbh held in 2013. About 199 projects of 16 government departments are underway under four phases which includes a six-lane bridge over the Ganges and a four-lane railway over-bridge worth ₹275 crore. The Public Works Department has to execute projects worth ₹430 crore including building an inner ring road in the city. ₹210 crore would be spent on safe drinking water facilities and ₹60 crore to electrify the Kumbh area. The focus is also laid on solid waste management to ensure that Ganga water is not contaminated and putting up LED lights. Moreover, widening and beautification of 18 roads and 25 road crossings are being done with the deadline of October 201.
The biggest cultural festival in world history – the Prayagraj 2019 Ardh Kumbh– is happening. Over the three-month duration of the mega festival, over 10 crore people are predictable to visit the city and take a dip at Sangam – the coming together of Ganga and Yamuna rivers. Among these millions of company will be a few high-profile guests from Bollywood and the sporting world as well. Actor Rajeev Khandelwal visited the mela earlier this week and the list of high-profile devotees is set to get longer as the fair progresses.
Cricketers Virender Sehwag and Ashish Nehra are set to visit Allahabad for a plunge at the Sangam this week, with Yuvraj Singh and wife Hazel Keech predictable to visit a few days after Yuvi's two seniors. Sources say that veteran actress and Mathura MP Hema Malini will also be reaching the fair sometime this week to take stock of the planning and pray at the ghats.
