Government of Uttar Pradesh has sent out invitations to some of the best universities in the world, including Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford etc to research on the preparations of Kumbh Mela next year, 2019. 12 institutions have been invited, with the list including Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the IIMs in India.

Apart from the above, Columbia, Cornell, Princeton, Yale have also been sent the letters of invitation. IIM Ahmedabad has submitted a proposal which is under consideration, Economic Times reported. The Kumbh Mela of 2019 January held in Allahabad is set to be the biggest and costliest so far with a budget of Rs 4,200 crore.

Improvements can be made based on the research that is done, and the government can consider suggestions from top minds to improve the event’s management. Research will include studying history, mythological importance, impact on economy, gender issues, infrastructure development etc.

About 15 schemes of the central government has been identified for publicity at the mela. Some of them being Swachh Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and so on.

‘Atal Corner’, a place that will screen speeches of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will also be set up at Kumbh Mela. Small boats will be deployed to help pilgrims travel between Allahabad and Varanasi. 500 shuttle buses, helicopter aerial tour are some of the other services that will be present this time.

The Kumbh Mela which will be organised from 15 January 2019 to 4 March 2019 is going to be handled by 28 departments of the state government. Six central ministries will be coordinating, and over 12 crore visitors are expected from across 75 countries. An hour at Kumbh will have at least 20 lakh people bathing at the Sangam this time.