NEW DELHI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- In what is being described as the world's largest congregation of humanity - "Kumbh Mela" is all set to begin in Allahabad at the confluence of three rivers namely Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Tuesday.
Over the next two months beginning Tuesday (January 15), around 1.2 million pilgrims and tourists are expected to arrive here to take dip in the holy waters of the confluence of the three rivers, popularly called as "Sangam", also called 'Praygraj'.
All local schools, colleges and other educational institutions have been shut for three days with effect from Monday. Elaborate traffic arrangements have been made in order to ensure smooth vehicles movement. Specialised buses have been put into service in a bid to minimise private vehicles' movement on the roads and streets of Allahabad city.
Hundreds of groups of Hindu saints and seers, locally known as 'Akharas', would be coming with much pump and show to have a "shahi snaan" (royal bath) in the cold river waters. The first "shahi snaan" is slated for Tuesday (January 15), the second on February 4 and the third and last on February 10.
The royal bathing of several 'Akharas' is one of the biggest attractions of the event for the pilgrims and tourists.
Tents have been erected on an area of over 3,200 hectares of land, which is around 700 hectares more compared to 2013 when the event was organised last time. "Kumbh Mela" is held every six years.
The whole area has been divided in 20 sectors, as compared to 18 sectors in 2013. Most of the sectors have taken their shape and Kalpvasis the devotees who spent one month from Paush Purnima to Maggi Purnima as per Hindu calendar are still reaching.
Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation has pressed 6,000 buses into service to ferry pilgrims from across the state. Indian Railways has also introduced special trains from different parts of the state and the country to transport the pilgrims. Most of the long route trains have been diverted giving a halt at Allahabad junction and other railway stations located in the Prayagraj district.
Besides, different airlines have started air connectivity from different major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Nagpur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Indore, Bengaluru, Ahmadabad and Lucknow. Local administration has announced ban on the entry of private vehicles into the Mela area for three days with effect from Tuesday.
The national telecaster "Doordarshan (DD)" and broadcaster the "All India Radio (AIR) have made massive arrangements to telecast and broadcast live events of the grand event. The AIR has set up a separate transmitter namely 'Kumbhvani' for the purpose. Broadcast from this channel will begin from Tuesday at 5.55 a.m. and will continue till 10.05 p.m. on March 4, the last day of the event.
Meanwhile, special arrangements have been for delegates of Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas (dedicated to persons of India origin) for participating in the "Kumbh Mela". Around 10,000 people of India origin (PIOs) are expected to arrive at the venue for taking the holy dip.
