5,000 NRIs, PIOs set to perform yoga at Kumbh
ALLAHABAD: Around 5,000 NonResident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) will camp in the tent city during Kumbh next year, say officials. The 49-day religious fair is set to start on the banks of Sangam on January 15.
They will also participate in a special yoga session.
Being invited to Varanasi for the proposed Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention-2019 from January 21 to 23, these visitors would be brought to Allahabad on January 24 to stay in specially set up Swiss cottages on Arail ghat, officials said . A high level team from the national capital led by Dnyaneshwar M Mulay, secretary from union ministry of external affairs, along with state government officials inspected the site of these Swiss cottages as part of preparations recently and approved it, officials said.
Mulay said during a meeting with officials that these overseas visitors would take a dip at Sangam and also visit different camps during the Kumbh. The aim was to allow them to experience Indian culture and get to know the mega fair closely. “For this a cultural event is also planned to be held at the camp where they would be put up,” he added.
Mulay has urged the officials to ensure that these visitors get an opportunity to witness the early morning and evening events organised during the fair.
“To ensure that the visitors face no problems, they would be brought in small groups from Varanasi by trains and buses. It has been decided to use the Mirzapur-Allahabad route instead of Gopiganj-Handia road for them as this would make the journey more comfortable for them,” shared an official aware of the plans.
The plan is to provide opportunities to these visitors to hear sermons of seers and also enjoy specially-organised Yoga sessions.
“We have apprised the external affairs secretary of an entire list of proposed activities that can be organised for the visitors. Once the events are finalised, we will begin on ground preparations for them,” shared Vijay Kiran Anand, Kumbh Mela officer while confirming the development. As per the tentative plan, the visitors would be treated to a cultural evening showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the country on January 24.
The next day they would participate in a special yoga session under supervision of experts in the morning followed by visits to different camps of saints and seers where they would listen to their discourse.n during the fair.