In a landmark decision, Uttar Pradesh government has decided to declare the Maha Kumbh area of the Prayagraj as the new district called Maha Kumbh Mela district  ahead of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela.

The decision is important to improve the organization of the upcoming religious event in January. The initiative focuses on ensuring smooth coordination of logistics, law enforcement, and facilities for pilgrims expected to attend the event in Prayagraj.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the move shows the government’s dedication to improving devotees' experiences and managing resources efficiently. The government order will take effect immediately.

The government order reads, “In the Maha Kumbh Mela district/Mela area, the Mela Adikari, Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj will have the powers of Executive Magistrate, District Magistrate and additional District Magistrate under Section-14(1). Other relevant sections of the Indian Civil Defense Code, 2023, and all the powers of the District Magistrate under the said code or any other law currently in force and will have the right to exercise all the powers of the Collector in all categories of cases.”

The upcoming Maha Kumbh is scheduled to begin on January 13, 2025, and will end on February 26, 2025, in Prayagraj.

About Maha Kumbh

Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu pilgrimage and festival, celebrated every 12 years at four riverbanks: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. The festival involves taking a ritual dip in sacred rivers, which is believed to cleanse sins and offer atonement. It also features fairs, religious discourses, and community gatherings. 

Although the tradition is often linked to the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankara, there is no historical evidence of a large-scale Kumbh Mela before the 19th century. The festival evolved from earlier gatherings like the Magha Mela, particularly during the colonial period after the 1857 rebellion.