Lucknow: The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday formally rechristened the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj.
The decision to rename the city was made at a cabinet meeting held today and comes into effect immediately, UP Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh confirmed.
Speaking to ANI, Singh said, “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.”
Talking about the opposition that the decision has been facing, Singh said, “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 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.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]