New Delhi: Story idea no. 54: “Mahakumbh: How Preparations Were Made for the Biggest Event on Earth”.
Storyline: The preparations for Mahakumbh 2025 began with a crucial meeting in 2022, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Since then, the Chief Minister has made multiple visits to Prayagraj to oversee the progress. Prior to the event, Prime Minister Modi himself visited to review the preparations and inaugurate several key projects. These efforts were essential in creating a temporary city, ‘Mahakumbh Nagar,’ to host the largest spiritual gathering on Earth. Over 50,000 workers dedicated themselves day and night to build this new city. Where permanent bridges couldn’t be constructed in time, temporary four-lane steel bridges were erected. The roads leading to Prayagraj were widened and beautified to accommodate the influx of pilgrims. The double-engine government worked in seamless coordination, ensuring that railway bridges and other infrastructure met the demands of the event.
Elements required for the story: Byte of the representative of the administration/government, byte of the authorized representative of the fair authority, byte of local people, byte of those working at the fair site, byte of a local senior journalist.”
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If you think you have stumbled upon the private notes of a reporter friendly to the ‘double-engine’ Bharatiya Janata Party governments in the Union an Uttar Pradesh, you are wrong.
This is only but a humble extract from a letter published by the publicity wing of the Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh to spoon feed journalists on how to cover the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 and extol the achievements of the ruling dispensation.
The single largest gathering of humanity along the Sangam – the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati – is a reporter’s dream. From culture to infrastructure to religious colour, environmental issues and political activities, the Kumbh Mela is a ready repository of journalistic stories in addition to from being a remarkable experience on its own.
Kumbh Mela. Photo: Flickr/Paul
Perhaps, to save journalists the trouble of ideating, the Adityanath government’s publicity wing has come up with not 10 or 20 but 70 detailed story themes around the Maha Kumbh Mela. The letter document, printed in both English and Hindi, also guides them on how to approach the story and exactly whom to interview for it.
The document was sent to select editors in Lucknow by Shishir, the director of the information and public relations department of the Uttar Pradesh government.
“The active involvement of the media is indispensable in ensuring that the significance of the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’-Mahakumbh-reaches the public and raises awareness among the masses,” said Shishir in a cover letter.
The official emphasised the need to focus on “predetermined themes” for stories.
“As the Mahakumbh draws closer, various related topics of immediate relevance are likely to emerge. Alongside addressing such immediate concerns, our aim is to focus on the predetermined themes as well,” said Shishir in the document, a copy of which is with The Wire.
In the document, the UP information and public relations department provided “suggested topics” related to the Maha Kumbh Mela, which could be expanded with additional facts as required. “These topics may also be enriched through interviews with prominent personalities, and their sequence can be modified as per your preferences,” wrote Shishir in the letter.
The 70 story themes listed in the document range from the historical background of the Mela, its sadhus and the akharas, to the festival being a catalyst for generating employment. It also touches upon the role of artificial intelligence and digital technology in organising logistics.
‘Holy dip surprising scientists’
The government is promoting the event as a ‘Divine Grand Digital Mahakumbh 2025’ with the theme, “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
Story theme number 27 talks about how the “snan” or the holy dip in the Kumbh was “surprising scientists with its benefits.”
The storyline goes:
“The Mahakumbh Snan has long been revered for its spiritual significance, but now its profound impact on human health is astonishing scientists. Earth’s rotation creates a centrifugal force, with specific latitudes such as 11 degrees-directing energy vertically upwards. Ancient Gurus and Yogis identified such locations, like the confluences of rivers, as powerful sites where human potential can be amplified through specific rituals, including bathing on auspicious days.”
The theme goes on to say that researchers from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Union government were studying 1,080 ‘Kalpvasis’ to document the impact of ‘kalpvas’ on their immunity. Kalpvas is an age-old tradition where devotees reside in flimsy but colourful tents on the banks of the Sangam for 45 days in austerity.
“The analysis involves 14 indicators, including levels of stress and happiness hormones like cortisol, dopamine, and serotonin. Scientists are also investigating the exchange of microorganisms that occurs when thousands of people bathe successively, a process that strengthens the immune system by stimulating antibody production,” the UP government document said.
“Additionally, samples of river water and soil are being collected to study their physical, chemical, and microbiological properties, while the geo-astronomical significance of the large-scale religious gathering is also under review. This comprehensive research aims to provide scientific validation of the ancient practices associated with the Mahakumbh Snan.”
To successfully write this story, according to the government, a journalist would need to speak to astronomers in addition to biologists, spiritual gurus, Kalpvasis and officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Employment and digital revolution
Theme no. 22 is based on “Employment Galore: Mahakumbh’s Immense Glory,” and pitches a story “highlighting the positive role of the state government” in job creation and skill development in the Mela.
Another theme is titled “Maha Kumbh of New India” and talks about “Heralding the Digital Revolution.”
The story would cover the Maha Kumbh 2025 app and website and how they will provide pilgrims readily accessible information on travel and accomplishments to services and facilities. The app will feature a multilingual chatbot, SahaAlyak, capable of answering queries in 11 languages. Digital signage will provide real- time updates and guidance for pilgrims at the event and an integrated control and command center, along with a digital lost-and-found center, will “reinforce the digital-first approach” of this Maha Kumbh.
How would the state government like you to cover this story? Simple, by giving all credit to it.
“Highlight how the 2025 Mahakumbh, as a digital event, stands apart from previous Kumbhs and why the credit for this transformation should go to the state government. The narrative should include references to the use of QR codes and other technological innovations, supported by demo sequences,” said the government story manual.
Mughals stunned
The document also suggests stories about the Juna Akhara and the Naga Sadhus. In both stories, set against the valour of the Hindu ascetics and warriors are Muslim adversaries.
“Juna Akhara: Rising from Betrayal,” suggests a story on the “treachery” of the Nizam of Junagarh in poisoning the members of the Bhairav Akhara during “peace talks” after the former was defeated by them. The survivors of that poisoning later went on to form the Juna Akhara, the document said.
The story on “Naga Sadhus: The Reserve Force of Sanatan Dharma,” talks about their participation in wars and skirmishes against the Mughals.
The storyline, according to the UP government, goes as:
“Naga Sadhus represent a unique military sect, structured like a military regiment, with their primary mission being the protection of the nation and religion. Their valor is etched in history, as seen when they supported Maharana Pratap in his battle against the Mughals, leaving the invaders stunned. Evidence of their sacrifice lies in the form of samadhis (memorials) near the Chapli Talab and Ranakara Ghat in the Panchmahua region of Rajasthan, where many Naga ascetics gave their lives. Similarly, when Aurangzeb attacked the Vishwanath temple in Banaras, the ascetics of the Mahanirvani Dashnami Akhara stepped forward to defend it.”
Over 45 crore people are estimated by the government to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 starting next month. The mela would be held over a massive area of 4,000 hectares.
Another story theme promotes the Kumbh as a “golden opportunity for lakhs of youth to discover the mantra of success.” It includes interviews of self-styled gurus Morari Bapu, Jaggi Vasudev, Dhirendra Shastri and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Idea no. 51 proposes a story on how foreign and domestic tourists flocking to the Kumbh also end up visiting the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, and Mathura.
