Maha Kumbh: Schools closed until Feb 12 in UP’s Prayagraj, Varanasi districts due to swelling crowds, traffic congestion

With the completion of the third and final Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami on February 3, the akharas and sadhus have also started moving towards Varanasi. They will stay there until Maha Shivratri on February 26 before returning to their respective places.

In Varanasi, newly initiated naga sadhus, along with the recently appointed mahamandaleshwars and mahants (Hindu monks with a high rank) will receive their certificates before returning to their respective places or being assigned their duties,” said Balram Bharti Maharaj of Atal Akhara.

Varanasi, approximately 130 kilometres from the Maha Kumbh site, has seen a significant increase in devotees amid the ongoing pilgrimage. Earlier, the Varanasi district administration had instructed primary and secondary schools in urban areas to conduct online classes for students up to Class 8 until Saturday, according to Arvind Pathak, Basic Shiksha Adhikari of Varanasi.

The administration and police in Varanasi and Prayagraj have once again implemented traffic regulations. This includes establishing barricades at key locations and restricting vehicle entry within city limits. In some regions of the district, the movement of vehicles is also prohibited.

In Prayagraj, pilgrims arriving for Maha Kumbh have been directed to park their vehicles in designated parking lots on the district’s outskirts. From these lots, they are being transported into the city using Roadways buses, which have been deployed to shuttle them closer to the Kumbh area.

As many as 103 parking lots have been established in Prayagraj for pilgrims arriving from various regions. Authorities are considering increasing the number of parking facilities if necessary. These parking lots have been located along the seven routes that connect Prayagraj to nearby districts, including Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, and Chitrakoot.