Forty days long ‘Vrindavan Kumbh’ was inaugurated by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday. The CM spent five hours in Vrindavan and inaugurated slew of 95 developmental projects worth Rupees 411 crore.
The CM’s helicopter landed at the Pavan Hans helipad on the Maant road around 11.30 am. Then he went to the Banke Bihari temple to offer his prayers and performed Puja for 15 minutes. After performing the puja rituals at Bihari ji, Shri Yogi reached to the Krishna Kripa Dham of Swami Gyananand at Sant Colony, where he discussed the progress in the construction of Ram Janma Bhumi Temple with the saints and sought their support and cooperation.
He also chaired a meeting of UP Teerth Vikas Parishad at the Tourist Facilitation Center, and approved 198 crore worth new projects.
A feast with the sadhus were organized at the TFC, where the Chief Minister served the prasadam himself to the saints. He reached the ‘Kumbh Mela’ site at 3 pm, where he visited the ‘Sanskriti Gram’, the cultural exhibition and participated in the cultural events. Then he performed Dugdhabhishek and Yamuna Aarati at the newly built Devaraha Baba Ghat.
Addressing the gathering, the CM said the Yamuna needs to become clean as per the wishes of the saints. We are trying to achieve the goal of making the Yamuna water clean by 2022. We want to make the Yamuna water fit for drinking, not just fit for bathing. The Government of Delhi should also take responsibility to provide clean water to its downstream. He said Yamuna must be purified. He wondered if the Ganga can become cleaner at Kanpur, then why can’t Yamun be clean.
Shri Yogi said, “‘the baithak before Kumbh’ has gotten a new recognition as ‘Vrindavan Kumbh’. We are fortunate to have gotten an opportunity to serve Shri Dham Vrindavan. We need to give a new recognition to Braj. There is no land more Sacred than Braj Bhumi. ”
“We need to exhibit the Spiritual and Cultural heritage of Braj before the world. We must link this opportunity with the livelihood of the people living in Braj. We have already initiated this process through the Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad”, added Shri Yogi.
Stressing on the need of Cow protection, the Chief Minister said, “Goseva must become the identity of Braj. The Govansh of Braj reminds the pastimes of Shri Krishna.
The UP State Government has taken every step to make the Spiritual event of Kumbh grand. It has built a new ghat in front of the Devaraha Baba Samadhi. Two permanent gates of red stone has been constructed to welcome the saints and devotees. A substation has been established by the UP Power Corporation for uninterrupted power supply.
Other significant features of the fair are a permanent exhibition reflecting the culture of the state, especially the Braj Heritage, daily cultural programme, temporary police line for fool proof security, camp for journalists, bathing area at the newly constructed ghats.
Authorities are trying to ensure continuous flow of Ganga water in river Yamuna during the ‘Vrindavan Kumbh’.