Allahabad likely to be renamed Prayagraj before Kumbh

The Sangam city of Allahabad is likely to be rechristened as 'Prayagraj', its ancient name, before the Kumbh Mela (a religious congregation on the banks of the three rivers) early next year.

After Hindu seers, senior Uttar Pradesh minister Siddharth Nath Singh has also written to Governor Ram Naik to rechristen Allahabad as 'Prayagraj' before the Kumbh fair.

According to sources, the state government was seriously considering to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj.

Earlier, UP's deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had also advocated for the same.

"The UP government is currently busy trying to popularise the Kumbh in other countries of the world....we are trying for international branding of the religious congregation," said a senior UP government official here.

He said a large number of foreigners visited Kumbh fair at Allahabad. "It (Kumbh) is the right time to rechristen Allahabad as Prayagraj," he remarked.

Hindu seers say that Allahabad's original name was 'Prayagraj'. It was changed during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

"Allahabad holds great religious significance for the Hindus....millions of pilgrims visit the Sangam during the Kumbh....it is high time its ancient name is restored," said Mahant Narendra Giri, the president of the All India Akhara Parishad, an apex body of the seers, said.

The state government had recently renamed Mughalsarai railway station, about 25 km from Varanasi, after BJP icon Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.