UP Kumbh Mela preparations in last leg

Dec 31 In Uttar Pradesh, preparations for Kumbh Mela are in the last leg. Religious organisations, Akharas, saints and sears have started arriving in Allahabad for the event organised every 12 years. Our correspondent reports that most of the Akharas have already performed Bhumi Pujan for their camps in the Mela area and many of them have also made their Shahi entry. The Mela administration has claimed that distribution of land to the participating organisations has been completed and sector magistrates have been deployed at all 14 sectors to look after the arrangements in their respective areas. Elaborate security arrangements have been done and with the deployment of 72 companies of central Para military forces, Close Circuit TV Cameras have been set up at 85 places in the Mela area. Unresolved differences over land allotment between the Mela administration and the pontiffs of the four shrines established by Adi Sankaracharya appeared to have cast a shadow on the Kumbh. A most respected religious leader Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Dwarka shrine and the Jyotirpeeth shrine has left Allahabad for his ashram in Madhya Pradesh following the administration's refusal to allot land for "Sankaracharya Chatushpath", for which the pontiffs of Puri and Shringeri have also extended their support.