Ardh Kumbh attracting record number of foreign tourists

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 13 (UNI) For some it is the land of Yoga, for others it is an abode of Gods but for many India is the land of divergent culture, art and rituals.

Ardh Kumbh, 2007 at the Banks of Sangam, the confluence of holy river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, is no different as it is drawing 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 tourists from across the world have already started thronging the 7000 acre sprawling mela area.

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

Paola, an Italian on her 10th visit to India finds the Indian religious rituals, the concept of art and the philosophy similar to that in italy and it is this closeness that attracts her. Having been to India on several occasions, she will be attending the grand affair for 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 Nagri is the place where one can find inner peace and spiritual realisation.

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

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

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

The tourist department is elated over the visiting foreigners with official figures of foreign arrivals to Ardh Kumbh haeding towards creating a record.

According to Regional Tourist Officer R K Yadav the state government is expecting more than 100,000 foreign tourist this time. In 2001 Maha Kumbh, the number was sixty thousand.

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

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

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

The tourism department has geared itself up to welcome the tourists 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 including railway stations, Sangam, bus stations and all entry points of the city.The city hotels have already been instructed to follow norms of fixing the rent and providing appropriate facilities to the tourists,'' he said.

UNI