President Kovind visits Sangam in Prayagraj. This is the first visit by a President to the Kumbh Mela since the vis… https://t.co/TS9HKx5Y7M — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) 1547726083000 ALLAHABAD: Calling the ongoing Kumbh-2019 as the largest gathering of humanity in the world, President Ram Nath Kovind said the congregation gave the world a vision and hope for unity during his visit to the Mela ground.The President was in Allahabad on Thursday and visited the Kumbh-2019 venue with his family.Later in the day, Kovind tweeted that he was the second President of the country to visit the Kumbh, after Rajendra Prasad Prasad had visited the first Maha Kumbh organised in independent India in 1954. He also camped at the Mela ground as a kalpwasi.On Thursday, Kovind arrived at the Mela ground with his wife and other family members. He offered prayers at Sangam along with governor Ram Naik, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and three other UP ministers.Later, Kovind visited Parmarth Niketan, the camp of Swami Chidanand Saraswati at Arial Ghat. He inaugurated the Gandhian Resurgence Summit, a conclave to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.The summit was organised by Parmarth Niketan, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and Harijan Sevak Sangh, which is India’s oldest Gandhian organisation founded by Gandhi in 1932.In his address, Kovind said, “The Kumbh is the largest gathering of humanity in the world and it gives the world a vision and hope for oneness. It is a magnet which attracts people and birds alike from all around the world.”Talking about an anecdote about Mahatma Gandhi that he had read in a book, the President said, “Once when Gandhiji was asked what would he prefer—independence of sanitation? The father of the nation chose sanitation.”Speaking at the event, chief minister Yogi Adityanath spoke said, “There is more water in the Sangam than any other year since independence. As many as 1,22,500 eco-friendly toilets have been built for pilgrims at the Mela ground.” Yogi said that Gandhi was committed to cleanliness and to movements for people. “Hence, the ground level work done for the Swachh Bharat Mission was greatest homage that could be given to Gandhi,” CM said.President of Parmarth Niketan, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, said, “A message of unity, peace, cleanliness, environmental protection and uplift is being sent across from the Sangam for all. We have a ‘sangam’ of our President, Prime Minister and a chief minister working together for a clean, green, healthy, united, peaceful and prosperous India.” The President also performed a final offering (purnahuti) for world peace in a yagna (fire ceremony) organised at the camp.

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