Allahabad to be renamed as ‘Prayagraj’ after 443 years

Allahabad will soon have a new name ‘Prayagraj’, if there is consensus on the renaming of one of the biggest religious centres in India. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced, Allahabad will be renamed ahead of ‘Ardh Kumbh Mela’, which is slated to take place in January next year.

“It might be the wish of many people that Allahabad can be renamed Prayagraj. It will be a very good message. If everyone agrees, we should know this city as Prayagraj and it can be a good start,” Yogi Adityanth was quoted as saying on Saturday by the news agency ANI.

An iconic city, Allahabad has a deep association with the freedom struggle of the country. It also features the confluence of the rivers Ganga Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

Since the news broke, there have been mixed reactions to the rechristening, critics say there have been quite a few name changes over the past few years.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Onkar Singh said, “The region where the Kumbh Mela takes place is already called the ‘Prayag (confluence)’. If the government wanted, it could make Prayagraj a separate city without any name-change,” he suggested.

Pointing out pre-independence meetings where the freedom movement took shape was held in Allahabad, which is also the birthplace of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Congress leader said.

While the ruling party called it an announcement that reflects the wishes of crores of people. Prayag was the original name of Allahabad, one of the oldest cities of UP. It was named ‘Illahabad’ or ‘abode of God’ by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1575.

Recently, the Yogi led government renamed the Mughalsarai Railway station, another historic spot, to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction.

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