Prayagraj: Among the more than one lakh tents and pandals put up for the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, the pandal of the Nath sect, to which Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath belongs, stands out.
It has huge, spacious tents, special langars being prepared with desi ghee, and an open area for parking vehicles.
The pandal is, in fact, turning out to be one of the biggest attractions of this Kumbh and preparations for it—with SUVs rolling in and heavy police deployment—are being monitored by Adityanath himself.
The pandal is also where the CM will be staying and two special cottages with high-end facilities are being prepared for him, according to the Prayagraj Mela Authority.
Apart from these, around 72 exclusive, pristine white cottage-like canopies have been set up for the mahants or chief priests of different maths. These are complete with beds, heaters, washroom facilities, geysers and washbasins, ensuring a VIP experience for the spiritual leaders. The canopies further have insulated fabric so that the low temperatures outside don’t affect the mahants.
“It’s a surreal experience to witness such good arrangements for our sampradaya. This VIP treatment was only possible because of Yogi baba, as he belongs to our sampradaya,” mahant Somwar Nath, seated on a plush wooden chair, told ThePrint.
Since the mahant arrived at the Kumbh site on Thursday evening, he has been video-calling his fellow sadhus and showing them the preparations.
Cushioned wooden chairs have also been placed in the small courtyard of these canopies.
On Thursday, the CM visited the pandal to oversee the arrangements made for the sadhus.
“We showered flowers on Yogi baba because he made us feel so special here,” said an 18-year-old man who has recently become a member of the Nath community.
For those who are not mahants, a separate spacious tent, neatly lined with mattresses and blankets, has been set up.
“There are four huge pandals which can accommodate around 10,000 people,” said an official of Prayagraj Mela Authority, adding that there is also a yagya room where havans are organised daily.
A second senior official said the Nath pandal was not being taken care of by the government but personally by the CM as he was the peethadeshwar or head of the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur. A huge langar is also expected to be organised by Adityanath.
The peethadeshwar is elected through unanimous approval. Prior to Adityanath, Mahant Avaidyanath was the head of the Gorakhnath Math.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)