Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday formally rechristened Allahabad to Prayagraj. The decision to rename the city was made at the cabinet meeting and comes into effect immediately, UP Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh confirmed.
“This (renaming) was done on the insistence of the public and the saints of Allahabad. In a meeting regarding the Kumbh Mela two days ago, the chief minister had also insisted on the same. Another thing discussed today was that the renaming should be done before the Kumbh Mela, so it is very pleasing that the city will be known as Prayagraj from now on,” Singh told ANI.
Though the proposal to rename the city had been made months ago, it had faced a lot of opposition.
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“The city used to be known as Prayagraj since the beginning. Around 500 years ago, the name was changed. To those who are opposing the decision, how would you feel if the name your parents gave you was to be changed?” Singh asked.
Singh elaborated on the importance of the word Prayagraj, saying that the word Prayag means a point where three rivers meet. He added that the city in many important Hindu scriptures, including the Rig Veda, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, is referred by the name Prayagraj.
“When the history attached with the name is so deep and important, I suggest the ones opposing the renaming should consider their views once again,” Singh said.
(with ANI inputs)