Residents of Prayagraj have thrown their doors open to the hundreds of stranded and hungry after a massive surge in number of pilgrims arriving for the Maha Kumbh sent the city infra groaning under its weight.
While the administration grapples with the crowd after the deadly stampede on Mauni Amavasya, the city's residents, businesses, and students have risen to the occasion, providing food, shelter, and transport help to the countless devotees arriving for a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam.
Dr Anjali Kesari, a local, summed up the sentiment: "In Allahabad, we don't see the Maha Kumbh pilgrims as outsiders, we are hosts and they are our guests."
She shared how her neighbourhood in Chowk, close to the railway station, banded together to serve food to weary pilgrims.
"Yesterday alone, we distributed tea that took 80 litres of milk into its preparation along with snacks, while others prepared meals like tehri and dal-chawal for the pilgrims," she said.
Many locals have cleared up spaces outside their homes for visitors to rest at night.
"For us, Kumbh is not just a religious fair; it is a confluence of humanity," Dr Kesari said.
City hotels are not far behind in lending a pro bono hand to the weary.
Alok Singh, who runs Hotel Vitthal in Civil Lines, has converted his 100-bed dormitory into a free rest stop for pilgrims.
"After taking a holy dip, many devotees are exhausted when they return to Civil Lines and head towards the railway station. It is a part of Prayagraj's culture to help others, and this is our way of contributing," he said.
Singh said he otherwise charges `12,000 to `25,000 per night for a room.
Dr Mrityunjay Parmar, an english department assistant professor, said that in the aftermath of the stampede, Allahabad University opened its campus and hostels to returning pilgrims before they undertook their journey.
"We have several hostels like Shatabdi Boys' Hostel, KPUC, PC Banerjee, and Sir Sundarlal Hostel, where students are actively assisting pilgrims," he said.
Women students from Mahadevi Verma Hostel and Kalpana Chawla Hostel are also contributing, either individually or in groups, Parmar added.
Apart from accommodation, the university campus has been designated as a holding area for Kumbh, where officials and students are working together to arrange meals for pilgrims.
Students from Allahabad University's law faculty have also been actively assisting the pilgrims.
Abhinav Mishra, a final-year BA LLB student, said he and his classmates have been distributing tea, biscuits, and snacks to devotees. Some have even been offering free motorbike rides to reduce the burden of long walks.
"Our faculty is near Bank Road, which many pilgrims pass through on their way to Prayagraj station. Seeing their struggles, we felt compelled to help," Mishra said.
Mishra, who is also the National Executive member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, said that the student organisation has been running medical camps for the pilgrims free of cost.
In the old city area, Yadgar-e-Husaini Inter College, a Muslim Minority Institution established in 1942 near GT Road, opened its doors for the pilgrims to take a rest. The college is close to the bus stand and the Civil Lines Railway Station.
"It was an emergency after the stampede. College management, including manager Gohar Kazmi and lecturer Raza Abbas, immediately took the decision. We arranged for the stay, snacks, water for pilgrims with access to washrooms also," Hasan Naqvi, whose grandfather was among the founders of the college, said.
He said the college was gearing up for a sprucing up of facilities in the coming days, particularly on special bathing days when the influx is massive, like providing 'khichdi' along with snacks.
