49-day Kumbh to start with first shahi snan on Jan 15
ALLAHABAD : Kumbh will start with the first shahi snan of Makar Sankranti on January 15 next year and conclude with the last bathing of Mahashivratri on March 4 here, making it a 49-day affair. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath along with office bearers of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) announced the dates of shahi snan on Saturday.
It was the first time that a serving chief minister joined the ABAP office bearers in announcing the dates of the mega religious event. Usually Akhara Parishad office bearers announce the dates.
Adityanath along with ABAP president Mahant Narendragiri and general secretary Swami Harigiri announced the dates of ‘Shahi Snan’ after an hour-long meeting with officials of Prayagraj Mela Authrity and saints of different akharas in Circuit House in the evening.
Of late, there was a tussle between ABAP and office bearers of Prayagraj Mela Authority over declaration of Kumbh schedule.
As per the schedule, the second shahi snan will be on Mauni Amavasya on February 4 and the third on Basant Panchami on February 10.
The other three official bathing will fall on Paush Purnima on January 21, Maghi Purnima on February 19 and Mahasivratri on March 4. Earlier, the CM arrived from Lucknow at Police Lines helipad at 1.20pm. From there, he headed straight towards Pani-ki-Tanki to review the ongoing construction of 1.1 kilometre long flyover between Cariappa Dwar and Eklavya crossing.
He directed officials of UP Bridge Corporation to complete the construction by November and ensure quality work. He also reviewed ongoing work of widening of Nawab Yusuf road besides other preparations for Kumbh at Fire Brigade and Bakshi Band crossings.
Later accompanied by deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya besides cabinet ministers Sidharth Nath Singh and Nand Gopal Gupta, the CM offered prayers at Bade Hanuman temple. He also reviewed Kumbh preparations at Sangam after which Yogi Adityanath headed for Baghambari Gaddi Mutt where he performed ‘Jal Abhishek’ of Lord Shiva followed by lunch with saints.
The CM later chaired a joint meeting of ABAP, office bearers of Prayagraj Mela Pradhikaran and senior administrative officials besides BJP MLAs at Circuit House.