Agencies
PRAYAGRAJ, Feb 27: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful organisation of Maha Kumbh 2025, calling it "a truly global event".
Addressing journalists at the media centre here, a day after the conclusion of the Maha Kumbh, Adityanath also expressed gratitude to the media for its coverage of the event.
"Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj truly became a global event, and the credit goes to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His vision has helped us successfully execute this grand event, and you (the media) have played a crucial role in conveying its significance to the country and the world. I thank you for that," Adityanath said.
He also highlighted Modi's concept of integrating faith and economy, stating that spiritual tourism holds immense potential, with Uttar Pradesh being the most suitable state to harness it.
"In 2024 alone, 64 crore pilgrims and tourists visited various religious sites across Uttar Pradesh, including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Vindhyachal, Gorakhpur and Naimisharanya," the chief minister said.
Over the past 45 days, more than 66 crore pilgrims and tourists visited Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh, creating new records in religious tourism, he added.
Adityanath also that the Maha Kumbh led to the development of five major spiritual tourism corridors in Uttar Pradesh. The first corridor connects Varanasi and Mirzapur to Ayodhya and Gorakhpur via Prayagraj. The second links Prayagraj to Lalapur and Chitrakoot. The third runs from Prayagraj to Lucknow and Naimisharanya. The fourth connects Prayagraj to Agra via the Bundelkhand Expressway, extending to Mathura, Vrindavan and Sukhteerth.
In the past 45 days, millions of devotees have travelled through these five corridors, including not only locals but also pilgrims from across the country and the world, Adityanath said. Representatives from more than 100 countries participated in the Maha Kumbh, including ambassadors and high commissioners from 74 nations, he said.
Additionally, ministers and presidents from 12 countries attended the event, along with numerous other international devotees, the chief minister said. The central and state governments, under the 'double-engine' governance model (BJP in Centre and Uttar Pradesh), spent approximately Rs 7,500 crore on both permanent and temporary infrastructure for the Maha Kumbh, the chief minister said.
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