Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday took stock of the preparations for the upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela and hit out at the previous governments, accusing them of causing stampedes on the holy occasion.
The CM, who arrived in Prayagraj on a two-day visit, took a round of the mela site, inaugurated a “Digital Experience Centre” showcasing India’s ancient culture and a “Digital Media Centre”. He wound up the day with a dinner with seers from various akharas.
Addressing mediapersons, he spoke about the significance of the Maha Kumbh and compared the preparations with those during the previous governments, which according to him, only indulged in mismanagement and causing stampedes. “Before the 2019 Kumbh, some people failed to recognise the importance of India’s faith and heritage. They made Kumbh a synonym of filth, chaos, and stampedes. This will be a lesson for them,” he added.
The Digital Experience Centre, situated in Sector-3 of the Maha Kumbh Mela area, represented the “divinity and grandeur” of Maha Kumbh in a digital format, he claimed. The centre offers a digital portrayal of mythological stories, including those on Maha Kumbh, Samudra Manthan, Prayag Mahatam, and Triveni Sangam, using artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality technologies, holograms and LED displays. Adityanath specifically praised the immersive VR presentation of ‘Samudra Manthan’, commending its powerful depiction through advanced technology.
“The future generations visiting Maha Kumbh to take a holy dip at the Sangam must see this centre. It will offer them a glimpse into ancient India, allowing them to connect with their roots and deepen their faith in Sanatan Dharma,” he said.
The Digital Media Centre is equipped with high-resolution cameras which would help viewers experience the essence of the Maha Kumbh event.
The centre has special podcast and conference rooms, a PCR room with two large screens and two small screens to broadcast live coverage of the Maha Kumbh. Through the PCR room, live feeds of press conferences, studio sessions, and podcasts will be made available on platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and X, previously Twitter.
The Chief Minister ended the day while hosting a dinner for seers. The dinner was attended by seers from various akharas, including Juna, Niranjani, Udasin Bada, Nirmal, Agni, Aavahan, Atal, Anand, Niranjani as well as three Vaishnav akharas (Nirmohi, Digambar, Nirvani).
“This mahasamagam will not only bolster Prayagraj’s economy but also contribute significantly to the nation’s economic growth. The Prayagraj Kumbh alone is projected to generate a revenue of Rs 2 lakh crore,” the CM claimed.
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