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India All Set to Host World's Largest Congregation of Hindu Devotees

© AP Photo / Manish SwarupIndian Hindu holy men wait for their sect leader for holy dip on the second "shahi snan" or royal bath in the river Godavari during the ongoing Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, in Nasik, India, Sunday Sept. 13, 2015
Indian Hindu holy men wait for their sect leader for holy dip on the second shahi snan or royal bath in the river Godavari during the ongoing Kumbh Mela, or Pitcher Festival, in Nasik, India, Sunday Sept. 13, 2015 - Sputnik International
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Called the Kumbh Mela and lasting for a couple of months, the event is a periodic religious gathering on the banks of selected holy rivers and has been designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of India.

The city of Prayagraj in India's state of Uttar Pradesh is all set to host the world's largest congregation of Hindu devotees with official estimates expecting 120 million people from across the world beginning on Tuesday.

Uttar Pradesh police have tweeted a welcome to devotees with a message asserting that the world's best hospitality will await guests of the world's largest human congregation.

Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times in the course of 12 years.

In this Jan. 14, 2013 file photo, an Indian Hindu man jumps up and down in the water as he takes a dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, during the royal bath on Makar Sankranti at the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India - Sputnik International
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Kumbh Mela: India’s Mass Pilgrimage Listed as Intangible Heritage by UNESCO
The geographical location of Kumbh Mela (fair) spans over four locations in India and the mela site keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimage sites on four sacred rivers.

The locations for the Kumbh are Haridwar, on the river Ganges in Uttarakhand state, Ujjain on the banks of river Shipra in Madhya Pradesh state, Nashik on the river Godavari in Maharashtra state, and the biggest of them all at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh state. UNESCO has named Kumbh Mela an Intangible Cultural Heritage of India. Prayagraj city was until last year known as Allahabad before the state government changed its name. 

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Kumbh Mela, this time in Prayagraj, will be spread over a 45 km radius area at the meeting point of the three rivers Ganga, the Yamuna and the mystical river Saraswati. Devotees take a dip in this meeting point famously, known as "Sangam", seeking atonement for their sins.

The Uttar Pradesh state government has made elaborate arrangements to give the venue a feel adorned with Indian religious ambiance.

The 2019 Kumbh Mela will commence on January 15 on Makar Sankranti day (festival of Sun God) which will be the day when the first dip in the holy waters will take place. The Mahashivratri festival, the day honouring Lord Shiva on March 4, will mark the last bathing day.

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Special tents have been developed in collaboration with private sector business entities for those who wish to relish a comfortable stay at the Kumbh.

According to the government, it is for the first time that devotees will be arriving in the city through land, air and water routes. Indian Railways will run 800 special trains to Prayagraj. Air India has also announced new flights to the Kumbh Mela.

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