New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has declared the Mahakumbh Mela Janpad in Prayagraj as a new district. This district, named “Mahakumbh Mela Janpad”, becomes the 76th district of the state, carved out to streamline the management and administration of the grand Mahakumbh festival.
The announcement was made on Sunday evening. The district will include four tehsils—Sadar, Soraon, Phulpur, and Karchhana—and 67 villages. Vijay Kiran Anand has been appointed as the District Magistrate (DM), while Rajesh Dwivedi will serve as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).
Mahakumbh 2025, scheduled from January 13 to February 26
Under the Indian Civil Defence Code 2023 and related provisions, the district’s collector will have powers as an Executive Magistrate, District Magistrate, and Additional District Magistrate to ensure efficient governance.
Traditionally, a new district is established during the Mahakumbh to handle the influx of devotees and tourists, effectively creating a temporary city within the region. The district is functional only for the duration of the festival, ensuring comprehensive management of resources, law enforcement, and logistics.
Mahakumbh 2025, scheduled from January 13 to February 26, will feature six “Shahi Snan”. To accommodate the festival, the district includes villages from four tehsils:
The new district
- Sadar Tehsil: 25 villages
- Soraon Tehsil: 3 villages
- Phulpur Tehsil: 20 villages
- Karchhana Tehsil: 19 villages
With the establishment of the district, a new administrative framework has been set up. This includes the appointment of sub-district magistrates, tehsildars, and police personnel. The SSP will oversee the district police force, supported by additional superintendents of police and circle officers.
This administrative reorganisation ensures seamless governance for a population that temporarily surpasses the existing city’s numbers during the Mahakumbh.
