32 Days to go for Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 – 4 Benefits of MEMU Trains

  Another 32 Days to go for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 at Prayagraj

 The Kumbh Mela is a celebration of unity, faith, and renewal.

There are 32 days to go, before the inauguration of Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj.

Preparations are in full swing

Any plans to visit?

The Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is scheduled to begin on January 13, 2025, and conclude on February 26, 2025.

 

The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 will begin on January 13, 2025, with the Paush Purnima Snan, and will conclude on February 26, 2025, coinciding with Maha Shivratri.

 

Several other festivals will also fall in between as Makar Sankranti on January 14, Mauni Amavasya on January 29, and Basant Panchami on February 3, and all are set to take place at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.

 

          MEMU trains will play a key role in the journeys of Visitors / Devotees to Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025.

          Railways are focussing on MEMU Trains to enhance the travel experience

          There are 4 major benefits of MEMU Trains

          Benefit 01) Platform Level Door exit. Travellers need not encounter any steps between the platform and train coach. They can seamlessly enter the coach directly from the platform. This ensures maximum comfort while embarking / disembarking between the platform and coach.

          Benefit 02) The doors are spacious for easy movement of travellers.  Travellers can easily board the train coach even with few luggage pieces.

Benefit 03) Apart from the comfortable seating arrangements, there is enough space for few passengers to stand in the aisles. Overcrowding can be minimised.

Benefit 04) Multiple stops between the first and last station, this will enable more travellers to board the MEMU trains.

 

Passenger capacity - A MEMU coach can carry 230 passengers, which is more than the 185 passengers that a normal passenger train coach can carry.

Train capacity - The Railway Board recently increased the capacity of MEMU Express trains by adding more coaches, which allows each train to carry up to 3,600 passengers.

### **Journey Highlights**

 

- **Prayagraj to Varanasi**: A scenic 122 km journey in 3 hours and 20 minutes with 21 stops. Average speed: 36 km/hr in the present most popular MEMU Train.

- **Prayagraj to Ayodhya**: A serene 155 km trip in 4 hours and 45 minutes with 21 halts. Average speed: 33 km/hr in the present most popular MEMU Train.

 

The Prayagraj Division of North Central Railway has gone the extra mile to ensure your trip to the Kumbh Mela is stress-free:

 

- **Daily MEMU Services**: Two trains daily from Prayagraj—one heading to Varanasi and the other to Ayodhya (except during main bathing festivals).

 

The Prayagraj Division of North Central Railway will launch a fast-ring MEMU service for devotees attending the Kumbh Mela, providing connectivity to Ayodhya's Ram Temple and Varanasi's Baba Vishwanath Temple.

 

The service, starting from Prayagraj to Varanasi and Ayodhya, will operate daily except during the main bathing festivals, Divisional Railway Manager Himanshu Badoni said.

 

He said that two Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) services -- one towards Varanasi and the other towards Ayodhya -- will be available from Prayagraj every day.

 

Pilgrims will take part in Kumbh Mela for several religious events such as Paush Poornima, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Maghi Poornima, and Mahashivaratri.

 The Indian Railways is likely to accommodate around 6 crore visitors to Prayagraj. Additionally, the festive season is expected to see about 20 to 30 crore people undertaking journeys from one part to another.

 

A Historic Gathering

The Mahakumbh, set to commence on January 13, 2025, at the Sangam (confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati), will continue until February 26.

This religious pilgrimage, held every 12 years, alternates between Haridwar, Ujjain, Nasik, and Prayagraj. This year’s edition is expected to attract millions of visitors from across the globe.

 

The state’s comprehensive efforts reflect its commitment to making the Mahakumbh 2025 a memorable and inclusive celebration.

 

The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu religious pilgrimage and one of the world's largest religious fairs.

 

It's a time for devotees to bathe in the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers to cleanse themselves of sins and gain spiritual merit.

 

Some key dates for the 2025 Kumbh Mela include:

January 13, 2025: Paush Purnima - Monday

January 14, 2025: Makar Sankranti (First Shahi Snan) - Tuesday

January 29, 2025: Mauni Amavasya (Second Shahi Snan) - Wednesday

February 3, 2025: Basant Panchami (Third Shahi Snan) - Wednesday

February 4, 2025: Achla Saptami - Thursday

February 12, 2025: Maghi Purnima -  Wednesday

February 26, 2025: Maha Shivratri (Final Snan) - Wednesday

 

The Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times every 12 years in four different locations in India.

The location of the Kumbh Mela rotates between the four pilgrimages on sacred rivers.

Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts only.

The only Joy is ‘World Safe ePay Day’,  and

 ‘World Blouse Day’.

 

Safe and Stylish: Unveiling World SafeePay and Blouse Day Delights

 

The need for observing World SafeePay Day and World Blouse Day arises from the absence of dedicated global celebrations for these concepts.

 

World SafeePay Day aims to celebrate the joy of safe electronic payments in all financial transactions, representing an abstract celebration that highlights the significance of secure and efficient digital financial interactions. As the world increasingly relies on electronic payment systems, having a designated day for SafeePay emphasizes the importance of secure and reliable digital financial transactions.

 

On the other hand, World Blouse Day seeks to celebrate the joys of wearing blouses in a more lively and visually impactful manner. The concept involves a powerful display of togetherness, with millions of people stepping out wearing blouses based on a chosen theme. This display celebration not only promotes a sense of unity but also serves as a unique and creative expression of shared identity through clothing.

 

 

 

Maha Kumbh Prayagraj – 38 Days to Go - Brands to spend INR3,000 Crores

  

Maha Kumbh Prayagraj – 38 Days to Go -  Brands to spend INR3,000 Crores

 

There are 38 days to go, before the inauguration of Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj.

Preparations are in full swing.

Brands are willing to spend around Rupees Three Thousand Crores during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

Do plan to visit Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

Link to my earlier Blog @ https://innovationinbanking.blogspot.com/2024/12/maha-kumbh-prayagraj-39-days-to-go-pm.html

Welcome to the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, world's largest congregation of people!

Join lakhs and lakhs of visitors/devotees  in this grand spiritual gathering to experience the vibrant culture, devotion, and unity

The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is scheduled to begin on January 13, 2025, and conclude on February 26, 2025.

 

The event will take place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

The Kumbh Mela is a Hindu religious pilgrimage and one of the world's largest religious fairs.

Indian companies are set to spend ₹3,000 crore on branding and marketing at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, seeing it as a significant consumption opportunity with 400 million expected attendees.

Major brands from various sectors are planning extensive on-ground activations and consumer engagement strategies to maximize their visibility and connect.

Crayons Advertising has acquired the advertising rights for the Maha Kumbh. The team is extensively busy responding to queries, both from domestic and international companies.

As there are only 38 days to go for the Live date, the pace is very hectic.

There’s overwhelming interest from FMCG, pharma, low-cost mobility providers, EVs and UPI gateways.

HUL, Coca-Cola, ITC, Bisleri, Parle, Dabur, Paytm and Emami as well as mobility players and EV companies are among those interested in the event, organisers said.

 

Companies are doubling down on marketing spending, setting up stalls, appointing distributors and readying supply chains, launching spiritual packs, and even using social platforms like Instagram, an executive organising the event said.

Apart from usual regular stalls, visitors / devotes will experience interactive booths, virtual reality experience zones, installations, branded lounges, and engagement touchpoints.

Dabur has planned a series of consumer activations to strengthen connect with users for most of  their  power brands.

Visitors / Devotees can look forward to ‘Dant’ snan zones inside the Kumbh premises with automated toothpaste dispensers, while its Amla and Vatika brands are setting up over 100 branded changing rooms for women devotees at the ghats.

 

Other plans include setting up hair dryers and pampering zones inside the changing rooms, offering immunity shots, setting up baby care rooms (a brand association with its Lal Tail brand), a life-size Amrit Kalash installation, and creating kamandal shaped packs for pilgrims to carry holy water.

 

Makers of daily essentials said they are aiming to leverage the dual opportunity of tapping more consumers from II and III-tier cities and offering samples to international visitors.

 

Emami, which makes Navratna therapeutic oil and Boroplus antiseptic skin-care products are prepping up with definite strategies to engage with consumers and enhance brand presence.

As of now, more details about Emami are not available in public domain.

 

ITC’s brands, including Mangaldeep incense, Bingo chips and Yippee noodles, are planning on-ground activations and purpose-led initiatives for Kumbh.

 

The below is more interesting.

Parking solutions provider Park+ has come onboard to provide automated parking solutions while tieups for environment-friendly transportation options with electric three-wheeler service providers are in the works.

 

The use of cash for parking at a festival of this scale leads to a lot of chaos. We are expecting up to 25 lakh vehicles during the festival. We will provide parking solutions linked to Fastag,” said Amit Lakhotia, chief executive officer, Park+. “There are several ongoing discussions to integrate intra-city transport on our app for the mela. Besides, we are looking at setting up a few electric vehicle charging stations for ease of EV owners,” Lakhotia added.

The event can’t be compared to the consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in January this year or other spiritual places, given its scale.

Parle Products, maker of Hide & Seek and Monaco biscuits, is in talks with suppliers to fulfil the demand and not create any bottlenecks.

 

Since the Maha Kumbh is returning after a gap of 12 years, and now religious fervour and spirituality have become very big in India, the revenues with previous Kumbh melas are not comparable.

It's a time for devotees to bathe in the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers to cleanse themselves of sins and gain spiritual merit.

The Kumbh Mela is also a celebration of unity, faith, and renewal.

 

Some key dates for the 2025 Kumbh Mela include:

 

January 13, 2025: Paush Purnima - Monday

 

January 14, 2025: Makar Sankranti (First Shahi Snan) - Tuesday

 

January 29, 2025: Mauni Amavasya (Second Shahi Snan) - Wednesday

 

February 3, 2025: Basant Panchami (Third Shahi Snan) - Wednesday

 

February 4, 2025: Achla Saptami - Thursday

 

February 12, 2025: Maghi Purnima -  Wednesday

 

February 26, 2025: Maha Shivratri (Final Snan) - Wednesday

 

The Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times every 12 years in four different locations in India.

 

The location of the Kumbh Mela rotates between the four pilgrimages on sacred rivers.

 

Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts only.

Copyrights, if any, belong to the copyright owner only.

The only Joy is ‘World Safe ePay Day’,  and

 ‘World Blouse Day’.

 

Safe and Stylish: Unveiling World SafeePay and Blouse Day Delights

 

The need for observing World SafeePay Day and World Blouse Day arises from the absence of dedicated global celebrations for these concepts.

 

World SafeePay Day aims to celebrate the joy of safe electronic payments in all financial transactions, representing an abstract celebration that highlights the significance of secure and efficient digital financial interactions. As the world increasingly relies on electronic payment systems, having a designated day for SafeePay emphasizes the importance of secure and reliable digital financial transactions.

 

On the other hand, World Blouse Day seeks to celebrate the joys of wearing blouses in a more lively and visually impactful manner. The concept involves a powerful display of togetherness, with millions of people stepping out wearing blouses based on a chosen theme. This display celebration not only promotes a sense of unity but also serves as a unique and creative expression of shared identity through clothing.

 

 

Applied for: Kumbhathon Startup Festival Jan'25 at Nashik

Applied for: Kumbhathon Startup Festival Jan'25
Pitch 1: Kumbh PrePaid Wallet (People Tech)
Pitch 2: Blouse Design (Culture Tech)

Having contributed to Kumbhathon 2015, I bring both enthusiasm and insight to the 2025 festival, recognizing the significance of contributing now as I may not be actively involved in the 2039 Nashik Kumbh due to health considerations.

 

Kumbhathon Startup Festival Jan'25: Introduction

The Kumbhathon Startup Festival, hosted by Kumbhathon Innovation Foundation from January 4-6, 2025, will transform Nashik into a hub of technological and cultural innovation. This event reimagines the Kumbh Mela as a living lab to prototype and scale solutions addressing the challenges of urbanization and sustainability.

With a focus on AI-powered innovations, the festival fosters collaboration among startups, innovators, and cultural leaders, offering a platform to design sustainable, scalable solutions for the world’s largest human gathering.

 

Few Lines About the Significance of Kumbh

The Kumbh Mela, known as the festival of the sacred Pitcher, is a spiritual and cultural phenomenon attracting millions of pilgrims. The ritual of bathing in sacred rivers is believed to cleanse sins and liberate the soul from the cycle of rebirth.

Held in rotation every four years across Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, the Kumbh Mela celebrates diversity, spirituality, and tradition.

Its significance spans astronomy, cultural practices, and oral traditions, safeguarded through mentorship within ashrams and akhadas. This convergence of science and spirituality unites millions, transcending barriers of caste, creed, and gender, while preserving the rich heritage of India.

Here are my pitches for the Application:

Published  - Word Limit – 500 characters

Q: Mention the kind of expectations/support required by you from Kumbhathon

Ans: I am pitching for two tracks:

1. Kumbh PrePaid Wallet (People Tech): A semi-closed wallet, valid only at Kumbh Mela merchant outlets, leveraging existing UPI familiarity. Support needed: Facilitate dialogue with NPCI.

2. Blouse Design (Culture Tech): Coordinated blouse patterns for lakhs of visitors, a visible cultural symbol with minimal government investment.

The wallet is abstract; the blouse is visible—a blend of innovation and tradition.

 

Published – Word Limit – 1000 words

Q: What motivates you to apply to Kumbhathon?

Ans: I am pitching for two tracks:

1. Kumbh PrePaid Wallet (People Tech): A semi-closed prepaid wallet system designed for exclusive use within the Kumbh Mela area at merchant outlets. It utilizes India's widespread familiarity with UPI and digital payments, making it easy to implement with existing technology. Support required: Facilitate a dialogue with NPCI, the Section 25 company managing UPI, to collaborate on this solution's development and execution.

2. Blouse Design (Culture Tech): A cultural initiative to introduce coordinated blouse patterns for millions of Kumbh Mela visitors. These designs symbolize unity and tradition, creating a striking visual identity for the event. This initiative is a public good that requires minimal government investment but delivers a significant cultural impact.

The wallet offers an abstract, practical solution, while the blouse provides a visible, symbolic connection—blending technology and culture for a holistic, enriching Kumbh Mela experience.

 

My definition of Blouse - A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that may be worn by workmen, artists, women, and children i.e neutral gender.