The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to rename Mustafabad village in Lakhimpur Kheri district as Kabirdham. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced this decision during the Smriti Mahotsav Mela 2025. He said that the name change would honour the cultural and historical connection of the place with Sant Kabir, a respected saint and poet.

Yogi Adityanath stated that the proposal would soon be brought forward for approval. He explained that his government wants to restore the original identity of places linked to India’s spiritual heritage. According to him, the village should be known by a name that reflects its true history.

While speaking at the event, the Chief Minister mentioned that previous governments had changed the names of many places. He referred to examples such as Ayodhya being renamed as Faizabad and Prayagraj being called Allahabad. He said that the current government has reversed these names to restore their historical significance. Calling the village Kabirdham is also part of the same effort.

Adityanath shared that he was surprised to learn the village was still called Mustafabad even though no Muslim community lived there. He said that when he heard this, he felt the name should be changed to one that represents the cultural background of the village. He assured that all necessary administrative procedures would be completed soon to make the name change official.

The Chief Minister also criticised earlier governments by saying that funds were spent on building walls around graveyards instead of protecting heritage sites. He added that the present government is focused on improving and beautifying places of worship and pilgrimage sites across Uttar Pradesh.

He pointed out that the state’s “double-engine government” aims to provide better facilities for devotees, such as shelters and resting areas. He also listed several important spiritual centres like Kashi, Ayodhya, Kushinagar, Mathura-Vrindavan, and others where development work is underway. The announcement reflects the government’s broader effort to promote cultural pride and respect for India’s spiritual roots.