Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared a fund allocation of Rs 5 crore for each Akhada (a sect of seers) during a review meeting for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela held at the Sahyadri Guest House in Nashik on Wednesday. Additionally, Rs 15 lakh will be provided per small religious institution, or 'sansthan', and electricity bills for Akhadas will be settled through the designated authority.
Grand Scale Preparations Underway
Fadnavis stated that the Kumbh Mela would be organized on a grand scale, guided by sadhus, mahants, and devotees arriving from across the globe. A senior officer from the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) confirmed that the funds allocated to each Akhada are intended for development, ensuring pilgrims and seers have access to all necessary amenities during the event.
Master Plan for Permanent Development
The chief minister emphasized that a comprehensive master plan has been formulated to manage arrangements for the event. He underlined that preparations for next year's Kumbh Mela are designed to serve the Mela scheduled 12 years from now, with a priority on permanent development works. The officer added that the master plan includes healthcare services, with assurances that every precaution will be taken to prevent health-related difficulties for sadhus, mahants, and devotees.
Key Attendees at the Meeting
Present at the meeting were deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, along with senior ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Girish Mahajan, Dadaji Bhuse, Uday Samant, and Shivendrasinh Raje Bhosale, among others.
Simhastha Logo Unveiled
The official logo of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela was unveiled during the event. The Kumbh Mela Authority organized a nationwide competition for designing the logo, attracting over 3,000 participants. Sumit Kate from Pune secured the first position, receiving a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and a memento. Mayank Nayak from Noida won the second prize of Rs 2 lakh, while Piyush Pimpalnerkar from Pandharpur earned the third prize of Rs 1 lakh.
