Prayagraj:

The Maha Kumbh Mela Authority and the police department have established a high-tech computerized lost-and-found registration centre utilizing AI technology, which is commonly referred to as the 1920 Center.

This centre will help lost pilgrims reconnect with their families and friends. It will offer digital registration for lost pilgrims at all locations.

Giving information about the computerized lost-found centre built on AI technology, Sector Magistrate Gyan Prakash said, “This time, the goal is to make the Kumbh a divine, grand, and digital experience. A computerized lost-and-found centre has been established, fully utilizing AI technology. This technology allows us to search in various ways, such as checking how you looked 10 years ago compared to now or matching your photo with images on social media. People from different parts of the country will come to the Maha Kumbh, speaking a variety of dialects. During this event, their language will be translated into Hindi or English through computerized systems. A designated area will be available for lost individuals to stay, featuring halls with approximately 100 beds. If children become separated from their families, a toy centre has also been set up for them to enjoy while they wait.”

“In addition, a team of doctors at the centre will provide psychological support. If someone is unable to see their relatives for an extended period and feels anxious about it, the team will offer counselling services to help them cope,” he added.

According to officials, there will always be ten people present for registration at the centre. A reunion desk has been established, along with a police desk for assistance. In the event, if someone gets lost, the local police station will be contacted to help locate the person. Once found, the police will verify their identity and safely return them.

The Maha Kumbh is being celebrated after 12 years and a huge turnout of devotees is expected in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26. To prevent mishaps, the district administration has been taking important steps to ensure the safety of the devotees, especially for crowd management and avoiding fire incidents.

Pilgrims flock to the Sangam–the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers–to take the holy dip believed to absolve sins and grant moksha (liberation). The Mahakumbh Mela is expected to host over 45 Crore visitors, marking a historic occasion for India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

As the countdown begins for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), the government on Friday launched an AI-powered chatbot equipped with multi-lingual capability to assist pilgrims and visitors.

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, the initiative is a part of the “Digital Mahakumbh” vision.

AI chatbot Kumbh Sah’AI’yak will provide real-time, uninterrupted responses, and serve as a free 24/7 guide, offering navigation assistance, and customised cultural insights.

Developed by the Prayagraj Mela Authority and UPDESCO, the Kumbh Sah’AI’yak app is hosted on open-source LLM provided by Ola’s Krutrim.

It supports Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada and Bengali.

“The platform allows the pilgrims to easily navigate the Mela area, offering guidance on various topics such as the history, rituals, and significance of Maha Kumbh, travel and accommodation options, and key attractions around Prayagraj.

“Additionally, with strong security measures in place to ensure privacy and prevent misinformation, the chatbot offers a seamless, safe, and enriching experience for all attendees,” a statement by Ola Krutrim said.

The 2025 Maha Kumbh mela will be held from January 13 (Paush Poornima) to February 26 (Maha Shivratri) at Prayagraj. The Maha Kumbh is organised every 12 years. The religious festival is anticipated to see around 400 million pilgrims and visitors from all corners of the globe.

“With this innovation, we celebrate the convergence of heritage and progress, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to driving India’s journey towards digital empowerment and technological independence, fueled by our investments in AI, chip designing, and cloud infrastructure,” Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal said.

The Prime Minister termed the Maha Kumbh 2025 as a “mahayagya of unity” which would take the country’s cultural and spiritual identity to new heights.

Addressing a public meeting in Prayagraj while inaugurating various developmental projects, he said the differences of castes and sects disappear at the Maha Kumbh.

“The Maha Kumbh is a mahayagya of unity,” Modi said. “It will take the country’s cultural and spiritual identity to new heights.” He inaugurated 167 key development projects worth Rs 5,500 crore, aimed at improving the city’s infrastructure for the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)