Lauds Yogi Adityanath, seeks forgiveness for any shortcomings in arrangements
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dubbed Maha Kumbh a "mahayajna of unity" and likened the massive congregation to the newly awakened consciousness of a nation breathing freely after breaking the shackles of a mindset steeped in centuries-old slavery.
A day after the 45-day religious congregation concluded, Mr Modi, in a blog post, wrote, “The Maha Kumbh has successfully concluded in the holy city of Prayagraj. A grand mahayajna of unity has been completed. When the consciousness of a nation awakens, when it breaks free from the shackles of a centuries-old mindset of subjugation, it breathes freely in the fresh air of renewed energy. The result of this was witnessed at the ekta ka Maha Kumbh (Maha Kumbh of Unity) in Prayagraj since January 13.”
The Prime Minister said that on January 22, last year, during the "pran pratishtha" of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he spoke about "Dev bhakti" and "desh" bhakti"— devotion to the divine and to the nation. “During the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Gods and Goddesses, saints, women, children, youth, senior citizens and people from all walks of life came together. We witnessed the awakened consciousness of the nation. This was ekta ka Maha Kumbh, where the sentiments of 140 crore Indians converged at the same place, at the same time, for this sacred occasion,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that this Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj is a subject of study for modern management professionals and planning and policy experts, as nowhere in the world is there any parallel or example of this scale.
“The world watched in wonder how crores of people gathered at Prayagraj at the banks of the confluence of rivers. These people had no formal invitations, no prior communication on when to go. Yet crores of people left for the Maha Kumbh of their own accord and felt the bliss of taking a dip in the sacred waters,” Mr Modi said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that it was particularly heartening for him to see the overwhelming participation of India's youth. “The presence of the younger generation at the Maha Kumbh sends a profound message that the youth of India will be the torchbearers of our glorious culture and heritage. They understand their responsibility towards preserving it and are committed to carrying it forward,” he said.
Mr Modi stated that the number of people who arrived in Prayagraj for this Maha kumbh has undoubtedly created new records and beyond those physically present, crores of people who could not reach Prayagraj were also deeply connected emotionally to the occasion.
“The sacred water brought back by pilgrims became a source of spiritual bliss for millions. Many of those returning from the Maha Kumbh were received with respect in their villages, honoured by society,” he said.
Noting that what has happened in the last few weeks is unprecedented and has laid a foundation for centuries to come, Mr Modi said that the administration had estimated attendance based on past experiences, but more devotees arrived in Prayagraj than anyone had imagined.
“Nearly twice the population of the United States participated in this ekta ka Maha Kumbh. If scholars of spirituality analyse the enthusiastic participation of crores of Indians, they will find that India, proud of its heritage, is now surging ahead with a newfound energy. I believe this is the dawn of a new era, which will script the future of a new India,” he said.
The Prime Minister stated that after 144 years, in this Maha Kumbh, saints have once again given us a new message for India's development journey and that message is "Developed India – Viksit Bharat".
“At this ekta ka Maha Kumbh, every pilgrim, whether rich or poor, young or old, from villages or cities, from India or abroad, from the east or the west, from the north or the south, irrespective of caste, creed and ideology, came together. This was an embodiment of the vision of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ that filled the confidence of crores of people,” Mr Modi said.
Citing India's spiritual traditions, Mr Modi said that from Swami Vivekananda to Sri Aurobindo, great thinkers spoke of the power of collective resolve and even Mahatma Gandhi experienced it during the freedom movement.
In a swipe at past Congress governments, the Prime Minister said that if this collective strength had been recognised and harnessed towards boosting the welfare of all post-Independence, it would have become a great force for a newly independent nation.
"Unfortunately, it was not done earlier. But now, I am gladdened to witness the way in which this collective strength of the people is coming together for a developed India," Mr Modi said.
Praising Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the Prime Minister said, “As a member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, I can proudly say that under the leadership of Yogi Ji, the administration and the people worked together to make this ekta ka Maha Kumbh a success.”
“Be it the state or Centre, there were no rulers or administrators. Instead, everyone was a devoted sevak. Sanitation workers, police, boatmen, drivers, people serving food — everyone worked tirelessly. The way the people of Prayagraj welcomed the pilgrims with open hearts despite facing many inconveniences was particularly inspirational. I express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to them and the people of Uttar Pradesh,” Mr Modi said.
The Prime Minister also offered an apology for any shortcomings in the services rendered. “I know that organising such a massive event was no easy task. I pray to Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, and Maa Saraswati to forgive us in case there were any shortcomings in our devotion. I see janata janardan, the people, as an embodiment of divinity. In case there has been any shortcoming in our efforts to serve them, I also seek the forgiveness of the people,” he added.
