Ardh Kumbh attracting rec number of foreign tourists

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 13: For some it is the land of Yoga, forothers it is an abode of Gods but for many India is the land ofdivergent culture, art and rituals.

Ardh Kumbh, 2007 at the Banks of Sangam, the confluence of holyriver Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, is no different as it isdrawing foreign tourists like never before.

Even as the Mela has yet to pick up and the first Shahi Snan(Royal Bath) of various Akharas is a couple of days away, the touristsfrom across the world have already started thronging the 7000 acresprawling mela area.

Hindu devouts from all over the country are attracted by theunfittered faith derived fron mythology but for the foreign nationalsit is just the magical presence of Indian unity in diversity at play.

Paola, an Italian on her 10th visit to India finds the Indianreligious rituals, the concept of art and the philosophy similar tothat in italy and it is this closeness that attracts her. Having beento India on several occasions, she will be attending the grand affairfor the first time.

Coming from Europe, Paul Wilson says that such religious fairs are reflection of various expressions of Hindu faith.

Another visitor Rebecca Wilson from England believes Kumbh Nagriis the place where one can find inner peace and spiritual realisation.

"I had watched a documentary on Kumbh prepared by a New York baseddocumentary producer. The documentary fascinated me to visit the ardhKumbh fair,''she said.

Elo from France just wonders at the unflappable spirit of thedevotees who visit this Mela and take a holy dip in the sacred watersdespite spine chilling cold and the generally tough civic conditions.

'Baba Rampuri' is the new Indian name of an American citizen whomakes it a point to visit every religious fair in India and has beendoing it since last 20 years.

The tourist department is elated over the visiting foreigners withofficial figures of foreign arrivals to Ardh Kumbh haeding towardscreating a record.

According to Regional Tourist Officer R K Yadav the stategovernment is expecting more than 100,000 foreign tourist this time. In2001 Maha Kumbh, the number was sixty thousand.

He says most of the swiss cottages erected for the foreigntourists on international standards had been booked and it shows theresponse would be better then expected.

''The early trend is certainly a good response as this is just thebeginning of the religious extravaganza. We have many tourists stayingin other places also,'' said Mr Yadav.

He said that foreigners are arriving from almost all prominentcountries, most of them from Europe, US and Canada. A few are fromAustralia. It is our endeavour to provide them with such facilitiesthat they become the medium of word of mouth publicity,'' he added.

The tourism department has geared itself up to welcome thetourists ahead of major bathing days of Makar Sankranti and Amavasya.

Arrangements with regard to Ardh Kumbh are almost complete.

Information centres have been set up at major places includingrailway stations, Sangam, bus stations and all entry points of thecity.The city hotels have already been instructed to follow norms offixing the rent and providing appropriate facilities to the tourists,''he said.

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