Maha Kumbh was like a nation breathing with a new consciousn
Maha Kumbh was like a nation breathing with a new consciousness: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is now forging ahead with new energy as Maha Kumbh concluded with over 65 crore people visiting the sacred site in Prayagraj
NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday likened the massive Maha
Kumbh congregation to the newly awakened consciousness of a nation breathing
freely after breaking the shackles of a slavery mindset.
"The Maha Kumbh has concluded. The 'mahayagna' of
unity has concluded," he wrote in a blog, a day after the mega religious
exercise concluded, and said the country has to now march ahead with a similar
sense of self-confidence and unity to fulfil the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Modi said more devotees than were ever imagined took the
holy dip in Sangam, asserting that India is now forging ahead with new energy
and that this points to a change of era which will write a new future for
India.
The prime minister offered apology to "Mother Ganga,
Mother Yamuna, Mother Saraswati" as well as people, who he said are a form
of God to him, for any shortcoming in the services rendered.
He noted that making such a massive arrangement was not
easy.
At least 30 devotees had died during a stampede at the
Maha Kumbh, which drew devotees in huge numbers from across the country.
The Uttar Pradesh government has said that over 65 crore
people visited the sacred site in Prayagraj since the Maha Kumbh began on
January 13.
In his blog, Modi praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,
saying as an MP from Uttar Pradesh he can proudly say that the government,
administration and people collectively under Adityanath's leadership made this
"Maha Kumbh of unity" successful.
Everyone, be it sanitation staff, police personnel,
boatmen, drivers and cooks, made it a success by working relentlessly with a
sense of devotion and service, he said, praising residents of Prayagraj as
well.
He asserted that what has never happened in the past few
decades happened this time.
"It has laid the foundation for many coming
centuries," he added.
Modi said the holding of Maha Kumbh has become a study
subject for management professionals, and planning and policy experts, as there
is no other example of such a gigantic event in the world.
“When the consciousness of a nation awakens, when it
breaks all the shackles of hundreds of years of slavery to breathe with a new
consciousness, then such a sight presents itself that we witnessed in the Maha
Kumbh of unity in Prayagraj after January 13,” he said.
Modi said the tradition of Maha Kumbh has been
reinvigorating India’s national consciousness for thousands of years,
suggesting new ways to the country and society.
“This time the Maha Kumbh of this kind came after 144
years and has given the message of a new chapter in India’s development
journey. The message is of ‘Viksit Bharat’,” he said.
People from every region, including abroad, caste and
ideology were one in the Maha Kumbh, he said, calling upon people to come
together in a similar way for building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The faith of 140 cr countrymen had connected to this
festival together at one time, Modi said, adding that the number of devotees
has definitely made a record as people almost double the US population in
numbers took the holy dip.
The administration had made its estimate based on the
experience of previous Kumbhs, he said, noting that the real numbers turned out
to be more than imagined. The prime minister said it was a very pleasant
experience for him to see young devotees attending the holy congregation in
large numbers.
"This boosts the faith that India's young generation
is the carrier of our values and culture, and understand its responsibility in
taking it forward. They are committed to it," he said.
The prime minister said this pilgrimage to Prayagraj
gives the message of unity and harmony, and invoked an incident from the epic
Ramayana in which boatmen king Nishad Raaj had met Lord Ram at a place which is
in the vicinity of the Uttar Pradesh city.
Noting that devotees in crores turned up at the sacred
confluence without any invitation, the prime minister said he can never forget
the sight of people reflecting in blissful content after bathing there.
Be is women, senior citizens or persons with
disabilities, everyone turned up with whatever means they had, he said.
The way devotees were welcomed with devotion after they
returned to their homes is also memorable, he said,
Modi said the mega event has strengthened his resolve to
ensure cleanliness in rivers, be big or small, as he asserted the purity of
Ganga, Yamuna or any other river is linked to people’s life journey.
