Sages at Maha Kumbh Mela Pledge to Adopt Eco-friendly Techniques

Sages have promised that during the Allahabad Maha Kumbh Mela, they will adopt eco-friendly techniques to prevent pollution of the River Ganges, where millions will take a holy dip.

The Allahabad Maha Kumbh Mela begins from January 14 and ends on March 10.

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'Clean and Green' is the buzzword at this year's historic Maha Kumbh, with authorities undertaking a massive sapling plantation drive combined with an effective garbage disposal and a provision for clean toilets.

Mahanth Rann Puri, a sage, told reporters on Wednesday that all are united in promoting eco-friendly products.

"A lot of sages have come here from distant places and the greenery that is there in their camps is a message of environmental awareness. Every camp should plant saplings and every sage has done something or the other in his own way," he said.

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As many as 100 million people from across the country and abroad are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh.

Allahabad is one of four spots where Garuda, the winged steed of Hindu god Vishnu, is said to have rested during a titanic battle with demons over a pitcher containing the divine nectar of immortality.

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Prem Puri, another sage, said products being used in the fair are environment-friendly.

Allahabad is also the site of the holy 'Sangam' or the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical River Saraswati.

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Garuda's flight lasted 12 divine days, or 12 years of mortal time, leading to the celebration of the 'Maha Kumbh Mela' every 12 years.

The "Maha Kumbh Mela" in 1989 attracted 15 million pilgrims and the Guinness Book of Records dubbed it the largest gathering of human beings for a single purpose. It was only bettered by the festival in 2001.

This city has the unique distinction of being right at the centre of the earth and rays of the sun fall directly on this spot and generate unique minerals in the water at the confluence.

Thousands of tents and camps have been built to house pilgrims across the 4,000 acre festival area and more than 10,000 policemen, including specially trained "terrorist spotters", have been deployed, authorities said.

Source-ANI