Dehradun, September 3 (Language) The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand said on Wednesday that the grand and divine organization of the Kumbh Mela to be held in Haridwar in 2027 is the state government’s top priority and directed officials that all works of a permanent nature related to the fair should be completed by October next year.

In a high-level meeting held here regarding the preparations for Kumbh, the Chief Minister said that all departments should work with mutual coordination and complete the works in a time-bound manner by classifying them on the basis of priority.

He said that all works related to the Kumbh Mela should be done in accordance with the master plan so that the event can be made well-organized, safe and memorable for the devotees.

The Chief Minister directed that all sectors, routes, parking, ghats and camp sites should be clearly marked so that land acquisition and temporary use can be ensured as required.

With the aim of reducing crowd pressure, he also directed to complete the construction of new ghats and repair of existing ghats on time.

The Chief Minister also gave strict instructions to remove encroachments from government land and roads to run the fair smoothly.

He said to complete the ongoing works in the Haridwar Ganga Corridor and the under-construction Bahadrabad-Shyampur bypass as soon as possible so that its benefits can be availed by the devotees during Kumbh.

The Chief Minister also asked to adopt the ‘Zero Waste Concept’ for solid waste management and ensure adequate mobile toilet arrangements.

Emphasizing the safety of devotees, crowd management, traffic control and parking arrangements, he said that it should be ensured that devotees return with a good experience from Uttarakhand. For this, he also directed to train the personnel in behavioral skills.

The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to review the preparations of the Kumbh Mela every 15 days.

Kumbh Mela

The Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu pilgrimage and festival, celebrated four times over a 12-year cycle at four different riverbank pilgrimage sites in India. Its history is ancient, with its origins in Hindu mythology, which describes a battle over a pot (kumbha) of nectar of immortality. It is renowned as the world’s largest peaceful gathering of people, who come to bathe in the sacred rivers to cleanse themselves of sins.

Haridwar

Haridwar is one of the seven holiest places in Hinduism, situated on the banks of the River Ganges in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Its history as a major pilgrimage site dates back millennia, mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures, and it is believed to be where drops of the elixir of immortality fell from a pitcher during a celestial battle. Today, it is famous for the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony and the massive Kumbh Mela festival, which it hosts every twelve years.

Haridwar Ganga Corridor

The Haridwar Ganga Corridor is a major riverfront development project along the banks of the Ganges in the holy city of Haridwar, India. Its history is recent, having been inaugurated in 2021 to revitalize and beautify the sacred ghats, which have been a central pilgrimage site for Hindus for centuries. The project aims to enhance the spiritual experience for visitors while ensuring better infrastructure and environmental sustainability for the river.

Bahadrabad-Shyampur bypass

The Bahadrabad-Shyampur bypass is a major highway project in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. It was constructed to divert heavy traffic away from the congested and pilgrimage-sensitive areas of Haridwar city. The project’s history is recent, developed in the 21st century as part of national infrastructure efforts to improve connectivity and ease congestion on the crucial Delhi-Dehradun route.