New Delhi:

Days ahead of the inauguration of Mahakumbh 2025 in UP’s Prayagraj, the Adani Group’s spiritual side and its ‘Seva Hi Saadhna hai’ pledge is drawing everyone’s attention.

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani met the Trustees and officials of the iconic Gita Press on Friday and vowed to present ‘Aarti Sangrah’ to 1 crore devotees heading to the holy city’s Sangam for the Shahi Snan, during the highly auspicious period.

Taking to his social media handle on X, Gautam Adani said, “It is a matter of immense satisfaction for us that in this Mahayagna, with the cooperation of the esteemed institution Gita Press, we are offering one crore copies of ‘Aarti Sangrah’ free of cost to the devotees who have come to Kumbh.”

The billionaire also shared pictures of his meeting with the Gita Press Trustees, appreciating their over 100 years of service to the nation through the Sanatan literature.

“Today, I was inspired by meeting the respected officials of Gita Press, who have been serving the nation for 100 years through Sanatan literature and had the privilege of expressing my gratitude to the excellent service work of Gita Press,” he wrote in a post.

महाकुम्भ भारतीय संस्कृति और धार्मिक आस्था का महायज्ञ है!

यह हमारे लिए अपार संतुष्टि का विषय है कि इस महायज्ञ में प्रतिष्ठित संस्थान गीता प्रेस के सहयोग से हम ‘आरती संग्रह’ की एक करोड़ प्रतियां कुम्भ में आए श्रद्धालुओं की सेवा में निःशुल्क अर्पित कर रहे हैं।

आज सनातन साहित्य के… pic.twitter.com/jGixzGafz8

— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) January 10, 2025

Notably, Gorakhpur-based Gita Press is the country’s largest publisher of Hindu religious texts and scriptures. Credited for safeguarding the Hindu faith during colonial rule, the iconic institution faced the threat of closure not long ago. However, the Pran Pratistha ceremony of Ram Lalla gave it a fresh lease of life and it found deluged with the demand of Ramcharitmanas, thus prompting the company to reinvigorate the firm with fresh investments.

A day ago, the Adani Group also joined hands with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to serve meals to lakhs of devotees and pilgrims arriving in Prayagraj for the Shahi Snan and Kumbh Mela.

The ‘Mahaprasad Seva’ will be offered to the devotees for the entire duration of the Maha Kumbh Mela, starting from January 13.

Gautam Adani himself announced the launch of ‘Mahaprasad Seva’ on his social media handle.

The Mahaprasad Seva will be offered to 50 lakh devotees and the meals will be prepared in two kitchens in and outside the Mela area. It will be distributed at 40 places in the Maha Kumbh area and 2,500 volunteers will be involved in this initiative.

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

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh):

The preparations for the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 have been ramped up as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Prayagraj on Tuesday for the fifth time in December to review the preparations for the upcoming event.

During his visit, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the Bio-CNG plant built in the Naini area of the city. The Chief Minister also inspected the key locations such as the Sangam Erawat Ghat, Sangam Noj Ghat, and the newly constructed steel bridge parallel to the Ganga Setu.

In view of the upcoming Mahakumbh event, CM Yogi held a review meeting at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) Auditorium in the Prayagraj Mela Authority to review the preparations for the event.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, during his visit to Prayagraj would inspect the steel bridge built parallel to the Ganga Setu while doing a ground inspection of various routes.

Yogi Adityanath has already extended an invitation for the Mahakumbh 2025 to President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and other dignitaries to attend the event.

The Mahakumbh held once every 12 years, is scheduled to begin on January 13 and conclude on February 26, 2025, in Prayagraj.

The main bathing festival, known as the “Shahi Snan” (royal baths), will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami).

As part of the preparations for the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, Uttar Pradesh Police will use underwater drones for enhanced security.

The Maha Kumbh 2025 will showcase a vibrant display of India’s cultural diversity from January 10 to February 24. The Uttar Pradesh Culture Department is finalising preparations to present the rich folk arts of India during this period, a press release stated.

The Culture Department will set up 20 small stages at key locations across Prayagraj, allowing tourists, devotees, and locals to experience the country’s diverse cultural heritage over 45 days. Folk dance forms from various states across India will be performed on these stages.

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