At Mahakumbh Namami Gange Pavilion Becomes a Major Attraction

The Namami Gange Pavilion, set up by the Namami Gange Mission in Prayagraj, is attracting a significant number of visitors every day, at the Mahakumbh-2025.

This pavilion has become an innovative medium for spreading awareness about the cleanliness and conservation efforts undertaken by the Government for the Ganga River.

The Ganga River plays a central and deeply symbolic role in the Mahakumbh, celebrated every 12 years at Prayagraj as millions of devotees gather to take a holy dip in the sacred river. 

According to Hindu belief, the Ganga is personified as a goddess, Ganga Mata (Mother Ganga) and is considered the holiest of all rivers. It is believed that during a dip in the Ganga, particularly during the Mahakumbh, devotees cleanse themselves physically and spiritually. 

Unfortunately, despite its cultural significance, over the years the Ganga has faced severe pollution challenges like dumping of industrial and domestic waste disposal, population growth and inadequate infrastructure.

In 2014, the Government of India launched the Clean Ganga Mission, formally known as the Namami Gange Programme, a comprehensive initiative to rejuvenate and restore the health of the Ganga River.

To ensure that the sacred river is cleaned, special cleanliness measures are being implemented for Rs. 152.37 crore (~US$ 17 million) at the Kumbh festival. These initiatives combine modern technology with traditional practices to ensure a clean and sustainable environment for the event.

15,000 sanitation workers are working round the clock to ensure the entire region including the Ganga river remains clean for devotees, coming to attend the Maha Kumbh.

To demonstrate the success of the Namami Gange Programme and other clean Ganga initiatives, the government have set up the Namami Gange Pavilion at the Mahakumbh, where visitors can learn about cleanliness and conservation efforts. 

The pavilion begins with an interactive biodiversity tunnel that offers visitors an experience of the Ganga’s biodiversity and natural beauty. Equipped with modern projection technology, this tunnel showcases the chirping of birds living on the banks of the Ganga and highlights the importance of the life-giving Ganga.

The main attraction of the pavilion is the digital exhibition, which presents the various efforts for the cleanliness and conservation of the Ganga in an engaging and educational manner.

Another highlight is the Prayag Platform, which displays real-time data on the Ganga-Yamuna rivers and their tributaries. This platform provides information on water levels, cleanliness, and pollution-related statistics.

The pavilion also showcases riverfront development and the functioning of sewage treatment plants along the banks of the Ganga. This exhibition helps visitors understand how the government and organizations are making technical and structural efforts to maintain the cleanliness of the Ganga.

The Namami Gange Pavilion at the Mahakumbh also features replicas of creatures found in the Ganga, such as the Ganga dolphin, turtles, crocodiles, and fish. This initiative is proving to be educational, especially for children and youth, allowing them to understand the Ganga’s biodiversity and the importance of its conservation.

The exhibition also features a special Reading Corner set up by the National Book Trust (NBT), where a collection of books related to the Ganga, Maha Kumbh, social policies, and national pride is available.

This corner is a special attraction for those interested in learning about the cultural and historical significance of the Ganga.

Institutions like the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Ganga Task Force, and IIT Delhi are sharing information on the conservation of endangered species of the Ganga, public awareness, and waste management.

This information is helping emphasize the Ganga’s significance and raise awareness among the public. The pavilion also features a statue of Lord Ganesh, symbolizing the purity and cleanliness of the Ganga.

The Namami Gange Mission has appealed to the devotees coming to the Mahakumbh to recognize that the Ganga is not just a river but an integral part of India’s culture, history, and economic life.

Keeping it clean and preserved is the duty of every citizen.

This state-of-the-art and creative Namami Gange Pavilion at the Mahakumbh is not only successful in conveying the importance of the Ganga but has also become one of the major attractions of this sacred festival.