The digital transformation of the Maha Kumbh Mela, kept till 2025, is opening up new opportunities hitherto unseen for the people taking part in this event of huge pilgrim importance. The Yogi government, along with technical partners, has focused on a lot of digital innovations in the interest of strengthened safety, convenience, and accessibility. Kumbh, Ardha Kumbh, and Maha Kumbha are special celebrations of the Sanatan Dharma, an age-old tradition spanning millennia. This year's Maha Kumbha is noted for its cleanliness and respect for environmental standards. The amalgamation is an initiative to going digital, an initiative started by Yogi Adityanath under the direction of the UT. The 2025 Maha Kumbh commenced on January 13 and will last until February 26; this event is recognized as the world’s largest gathering, with participants from India and the world descending into Prayagraj to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mystical Saraswati.
The UP government has on its function a digital plan. AI, mobile apps, chatbots, a digital center for lost and found, and even Google navigation are all designed to help the entire crowd attending the Maha Kumbh, including pilgrims from across the country and beyond. The digital plan consists of modifications to ensure that some of the things include AI-assisted cameras, Google Maps navigation, and chatbot service-enhancing security and ease of experience during the event with millions of devotees attending. In simpler terms, the state wishes to engage a digital journey with as many attendees as possible, especially during their maiden visit to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela.
In the Rigveda, the "churning of the cosmic ocean" is a divine act that gave rise to the belief concerning the Kumbh and Maha Kumbh Melas, where Vishnu, during the cosmic churning, created a pot filled with elixir-Mohammed Baba. The Maha Kumbh Mela is a perennial tapestry of faith and fervor with a sacred epic nature. The interplay of politics, spirituality, and cultural heritage colors it all. There are references to this pilgrimage in ancient days including the Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. The Rigveda describes a significant event known as the "Sagar Manthan," or the churning of the cosmic ocean, which is regarded as the origin of the Maha Kumbh. According to myth, a pot, or kumbh, emerged during this cosmic churning. This led to a celestial claim for the divine nectar and a heavenly battle of twelve divine days, equivalent to twelve human years. Drops of nectar fell at four locations on Earth that are now the sites of Kumbh Mela celebrations.
The earliest historical references to Kumbh Mela go to the Maurya and Gupta periods, approximately between the 4th century BCE and the 6th century CE. It was during that time that the great Indian emperor Ashoka is said to have played a pivotal role in the propagation of Buddhism. Historical records show pilgrims being drawn from various corners of the Indian subcontinent to the early form of the Maha Kumbh Mela. The primary aims of digitizing the Maha Kumbh are to improve security, visibility, track activities, and make service delivery efficient. The Uttar Pradesh government has soon made digital arrangements to help people take the Kumbh Mela 2025 nice and safe. The project, which has the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will modernize the digital experience for participants and guests who will not be present in person for the Mela. For the first time, advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence will be at Darshan during the Maha Kumbh.
The Prayagraj Mela Authority will also be able to monitor services provided in the event, including Ganga Aarti Puja by the means of online portals. To ensure further ease of access, 3D images of all camps are posted on the official website, giving visitors a clear picture of the facilities and accommodations. For safety and sanitation during Maha Kumbh 2025, 100 AI cameras have been installed at the Mela. The cameras help monitor activities and alert police on any untoward incident. Scanners have been installed in all toilets to check for cleanliness and maintenance in real time. An agreement was signed between the UP government and Google during Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit to Prayagraj. This partnership allows Google to stream live videos of the entire tent city. The official website offers detailed information on attractions such as laser shows, water sports, and much more. This is the first time new age technologies including chatbots, Google maps, and artificial intelligence have been used for planning and managing the Maha Kumbh. The Prayagraj Mela authorities can also monitor services provided during the event such as the Ganga Aarti Puja using internet resources.
For the convenience of visitors, all camps have 3D photographs posted on the official website, offering a comprehensive view of amenities and lodging. To maintain cleanliness and security during Maha Kumbh 2025, one hundred AI cameras have been set up at the Mela. They are live feeds constantly observing the situation and are connected to the police to alert them to issues. Additional scanners installed in each toilet monitor upkeep and cleanliness in real time. Maha Kumbh 2025 will provide UP with an opportunity to showcase its tourism potential. The state tourism department has established a Digital Kumbh Museum to showcase India's cultural heritage and offer insights into the mythological and historical importance of the Kumbh. The UP government is proposing globally branding Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 as one of the world's largest gregarious gatherings of pilgrims in a bid to promote religious and spiritual tourism. Maha Kumbh 2025 will present a face of India and UP to domestic and international tourists; ensure that tourists go back with lots of pleasant memories from their stay; and therefore, we are fully committed to the preparations. While Kumbh is a religious affair, it involves some substantial socioeconomic impacts. The state is aggressively working to brand Maha Kumbh as a proponent for religious, spiritual, and cultural tourism in order to create jobs after stimulating economic growth and a change in image of Uttar Pradesh as it gears to become India's very first trillion-dollar economy.
There is a big tent city of 4,000 hectares built in Prayagraj to take care of the large number of devotees. The city will have 67,000 streetlights and, besides 2,000, 25,000 public accommodations for various types of tourists. About 23,000 CCTV cameras and AI-backed surveillance will strengthen the security measures in the tent city at Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers converge. The Kumbh state budget has seen a hike of 78%, from Rs 4,200 crore in Kumbh Mela 2019 to Rs 7,500 crore for Maha Kumbh 2025. The main religious ritual involves taking a holy dip in the waters at the Sangam, which is considered the holiest pilgrimage site in Hinduism and is said to grant salvation to those who partake in it. The Maha Kumbh Mela has, in a sense, chosen the modern digital convenience to take forward our cultural, spiritual, and religious legacy to the succeeding generations while staying connected to the rich cultural and religious roots. Kumbh Mela truly bears witness to India's spiritual, cultural, and religious legacy.
(Vivek Koul)
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