An overwhelming rush of devotees has flooded the Mahakumbh mela ahead of Mauni Amavasya on Wednesday.
At least 4 crore people have converged around the bathing ghats of the Triveni Sangam — the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj.
Anticipating the rush on Mauni Amavasya — the most auspicious day of the Hindu calendar — the local administration has blocked the movement of traffic towards the Mela site till January 30.
The site is already overflowing with sadhus, devotees, tourists, police, central police organisation personnel and state administration. All the 30 pontoon bridges that were temporarily set up to facilitate traffic across the river have been closed by the police.
“There is 2 crore floating population today while about 1 crore to 1.5 crore people are stationed inside the Mela area which is spread across 4,000 hectares of land,” Vivek Chaturvedi, Additional District Magistrate of Maha Kumbh said.
Undeterred by the winter chill, visitors are thronging the fair describing it as a “once in a lifetime” experience. Sarvesh Shahdeo, who works for a San Francisco-based US multinational’s Delhi office, said he is on a ‘spiritual journey’.
“I am lucky to be a member of Shree Sarveshwari Samooh, a Varanasi headquartered socio-spiritual organisation engaged in uplifting humankind through Manav Seva (serving humanity), which encourages us to look beyond our surrounding to find meaning in our lives,” Shahdeo told businessline.
But reaching Prayagraj while the Maha Kumbh is in full flow is not easy, he says.
“No train tickets were available and the two waitlisted ones did not get confirmed… I made an overnight trip in a sleeper bus that cost me ₹3,500 since flight tickets were way above my budget,” he said. Shahdeo recounted how the bus only dropped him on the outskirts of Prayagraj from where he hitch-hiked to the campsite.
In Prayagraj, as the rush mounts, hotel rates have multiplied five to ten times. Says Harjinder Singh, Prayagraj Hotel and Restaurant Association President: “Tell me why it’s wrong (high hotel prices). Dynamic pricing is a worldwide phenomenon driven by demand and supply. Doesn’t Railways charge more from passengers through dynamic pricing.” Rooms in good hotels in Prayagraj are available at for not less than ₹12,000 to ₹15,000 per night.
For ordinary hotels it’s from ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 per room, the Association president said.
But neither the rates, nor the cold or crowds are deterring pilgrims who are continuing to arrive in droves.
