Maha Kumbh: New traffic, bathing guidelines laid down for devotees; see details

Keeping in view the increasing number of devotees at the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela being held in Prayagraj new traffic and bathing guidelines were issued as per a releaseAs per the instructions issued devotees or people coming to take a dip from the Parade Mela area towards the Sangam would be able to take a bath at the Sangam and the other ghats built towards the parade areaDevotees or people coming to take a dip from the Jhunsi fair area would be able to take a dip at the bathing ghats built towards Jhunsi The same applies for the devotees coming from the Arali side the devotees would be able to take a dip at the bathing ghats built in the Arali areaA No Vehicle zone was also implemented in the entire Mahakumbh areaAs per the release issued only vehicles issued by the Mela Police for the devotees would be able to come to the Maha Kumbh Mela area The other vehicle owners would park their vehicles at the designated parking spotsAdditionally only emergency or medical services like ambulances and food and logistic vehicles would be allowedThe release appealed to all devotees coming to the Maha Kumbh to follow the rules laid down by the administration and traffic police and cooperate for easy transportation and a safe experienceMeanwhile the Northern Railway has announced to special Vande Bharat trains on February 15 16 and 17 for devoteesFor the convenience of devotees intending to visit the Maha Kumbh Mela Railways will run Vande Bharat Special train No 0225202251 on February 15 16 and 17 between New Delhi and Varanasi via PrayagrajThe Vande Bharat Special Train no 02252 will depart from New Delhi at 530 hrs via Prayagraj at 1200 hrs to reach Varanasi at 1420 hrsIn the return direction Vande Bharat Special train no 02251 will depart from Varanasi at 1515 hrs Prayagraj at 1720 hrs to reach New Delhi at 2350 hrs the same dayTo provide special facilities to the people going to the Maha Kumbh on weekends to take a holy dip Indian Railways is running a special Vande Bharat train This train will run on 15th 16th and 17th FebruaryThis Vande Bharat special train will leave from New Delhi station at 530 am and will reach Varanasi at 220 pm via Prayagraj After this this train will leave Varanasi station at 315 pm and will reach New Delhi at 1150 pm said Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway Himanshu Shekhar UpadhyayAccording to the Uttar Pradesh administration the Mahakumbh has become the first event in the world to have more than 500 million direct participantsThis number exceeds the population of several major countries including the United States Russia Indonesia Brazil Pakistan and Bangladesh making the Mahakumbh the largest spiritual gathering in the worldThe local administration reported that 17 million devotees took a dip on Paush Purnima followed by 35 million on Makar Sankranti 764 million on Mauni Amavasya 257 million on Basant Panchami and 14 million on Magh Purnima As of 400 PM on Friday over 79 million devotees had taken a dip at the Triveni Sangam