Ayodhya's Kumbh Mela to hail India's inclusive culture

LUCKNOW: Much more than the karmabhoomi of Bhagirath and janmabhoomi of Ram, the multi-faceted destination of faith, Ayodhya, will host a kumbh mela to showcase inclusiveness, later this year.
To be organised in December, the Samrasta Kumbh will be a two-day festival to show how Ayodhya holds significance for not only Hindus but also for Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs and Sufi saints.
The first day, December 7, will be dedicated to a dialogue on the diversity of religion in Ayodhya, while the next day would be targeted at travel writers, tour operators and people from the tourism industry, in a conclave.
Faizabad's Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University has been delegated the responsibility to organise the programme.
According to the state tourism department, the event is part of several programmes to be organised in Ayodhya in the run-up to the 2019 Kumbh.
"The canvas of faith in Ayodhya is much bigger than it seems. Besides being the birthplace of Ram and home to more than 60 temples, Ayodhya is a manifestation of belief in the supreme ruler. The co-existence of people of different faiths, especially Hindus and Muslims, makes it an epitome of India's syncretic culture. The Samrasta Kumbh aims at projecting inclusive ethos," said the vice-chancellor of RML Avadh University Prof Manoj Dixit.