The government plans to promote the Kumbh Mela as a destination for tourists, and encourage visitors and dignitaries from foreign countries to attend the event. The Kumbh Mela will be held between January 15 and March 4 next year in Allahabad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to promote the religious congregation as an international event and a destination for tourists as well as pilgrims, Uttar Pradesh minister Sidharth Nath Singh said. The PM wants the state government to invite dignitaries of foreign countries for the event, Singh added.
As part of the promotion, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will take a group of diplomats, including ambassadors and high commissioners, to Allahabad in December ahead of the event. The PM may also invite some heads of states, sources said. The Centre has cleared Rs 1,200 crore for conducting Kumbh Mela.
Read more of this in a report by Liz Mathew published in The Indian Express....
