‘Micromanagement At Maha Kumbh Is Incredible, Unprecedented’
Santosh Goyal, a retired teacher from Delhi who has toured all the shaktipeeths and jyotirlings in India, shares his recent experience at Maha Kumbh.
The journey to Prayagraj and the snan at Maha Kumbh has been the easiest and smoothest religious trip that I could ever have envisaged. Despite the humongous numbers in terms of pilgrims and all the crowds that we were seeing in the news and social media, I was pleasantly surprised to see that everything in this little town created for this festival was extremely well managed.
About 6 km from the Sangam parking, an e-rickshaw took us to Sangam. The rates were reasonable, the transport easily available. No haggling, no fleecing. The roads were super clean. Iron sheets were spread out on the entire route to keep off dust, and water tankers kept sprinkling the road every 200 yards to keep them clean.
About half a kilometre from Sangam, is Paltan Bridge. There are 25 such bridges and there are odd-even numbers designated for entry and exit points to and from each of these bridges. I felt this was a superb way of managing and easing the traffic and crowds. No vehicles are allowed on the bridges.
The bathing area was clean. Dry grass or paraali had been spread out on the entire area adjoining the bathing spots so that there is no slush when people come out with wet clothes and feet after the snan. Also, it keeps the body warm in winter.
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Sand bags were arranged all along the Sangam so that after the dip you directly step onto these and they soak the falling droplets. Again, no muddy water accumulates anywhere. Railings have been set up so that no visitor slips off. Boats with life-saving jackets patrol the entire water body.
The security arrangements are to be seen to believe. The police, the military and the NDRF are on their toes to help 24×7. In fact, they were more alert than the pilgrims were. The women who were with us were changing after the dip and there was a man sitting there and watching. We did not even notice until the police personnel warded him off sharply.
The entire huge area is CCTV-manned. The entire town was well lit. Drinking water was available everywhere. The security personal would immediately ward off any sellers if they tried to pester or harass the pilgrims. Every few meters there were people to guide and help. For example, people were telling us to not use soap while taking a dip, not wash clothes etc. No one was bothering anyone. People could sit and pray wherever they liked.
The pandals of sadhus and other saints and gurus were offering fresh and hygienic food all day and night. Another thing that struck me was that at the Maha Kumbh people from every strata were there because of affordability. Even lodging started at Rs 100 to the maximum with even floating housing that I am sure costs much.
And it was so easy for wheelchair bound people to go for snan as well. Wheelchairs were available and could be easily wheeled in to the designated ghats. Despite the fact that devotees descended at Maha Kumbh in unprecedented numbers, there was no commotion or chaos.
Arrangements were exactly in keeping with the necessities, requirements and expectations of the devotees. To organise an event of such a huge magnitude and with such immense perfection speaks a lot about the Yogi Adityanath governance.
As told to Deepa Gupta
