Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh): The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Aditiyanath on Saturday met foreign diplomats at Prayagraj, on the sidelines of the ongoing Maha Kumbh.
He said, “I welcome you all to the MahaKumbh Mela 2025, it is a moment of happiness that the biggest event of the century has been organised in Prayagraj. Your visit encourages us more. Prayagraj is an old city and the organisation of Kumbh is also a byproduct. Till now 35 crore pilgrims have taken part in the MahaKumbh Mela 2025. We believe that till February 26 more than 45 crore people will take part in this.”
A 118-member delegation, including Heads of Mission (HoM), spouses of HoMs, and diplomats from 77 countries, participated in Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj on Saturday.
Minister of State of the Ministry of External Affairs Pabitra Margherita told ANI, “Maha Kumbh is an experience of a lifetime. A strong delegation of more than 70 nations took part in Maha Kumbh today, took a holy bath, and many of them even offered ‘Puja’. This is the strength of our Indian philosophy, culture, and religion. I was delighted to see the satisfaction of the ambassadors.”
Katharina Wieser, the Austrian Ambassador to India, told the media that she was very fascinated by the sheer magnitude of Maha Kumbh.
“The dimension of this festival is fascinating, especially for me as I come from a small country. This confluence of the river, the birds, and the evening sun, it’s all very beautiful. It’s impressive how many people come here peacefully to experience this special and spiritual place. I will remember the calmness of this huge crowd of people taking a dip in the river,” she said.
Vetsop Namgyel, the Bhutanese Ambassador to India, says, “I want to thank the Ministry of External Affairs and the UP government for inviting us ambassadors for this special trip to the Sangam. I took the opportunity of taking a dip in the holy junction of the Ganga and Yamuna. It was a spiritual experience. I know the spiritual significance of Maha Kumbh, especially this year. I pray for the everlasting friendship between India and Bhutan. I pray to receive the blessings of Lord Shiva.”
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 that began at Prayagraj on January 13 is set to continue till February 26. The Maha Kumbh is held every 144 years.