MAHAKUMBH NAGAR (PRAYAGRAJ): The sun is already setting behind the Ganga when Ram Asrey and Harish Chandra start packing up their hammers and shovels. The 62- and 60-year-old have been at work since eight in the morning, helping widen the roads from Prayagraj leading to the Kumbh mela ground. Their limbs are sheathed in sweat beads despite the winter chill setting in.
"The Kumbh gives us livelihood for several months. We get ₹500 for eight hours of work. We are blessed to be part of this grand occasion, which witnesses a sea of people," Asrey, a resident of Kaushambi, said.
They aren't the only ones. Around them, at least a thousand men and women are walking back to the temporary camp sites, where they will rest before returning to work afresh. Some of them who reside nearby head to their homes. Most of the workers are from adjoining areas such as Pratapgarh, Kaushambi and Phaphamau. The steady buzz of road rollers, excavators and cranes that had rent the air at Sangam City has suddenly fallen silent.
"We have a job on our hands, and we are racing against a deadline. We must finish the task by the first week of next month. The shorter days and winter chill will only make things difficult," 58-year-old Daya Ram, a worker from Phaphamau said.
The silence doesn't last long. Around 30 minutes later, a fresh army of workers descend upon the muddy expanse of land on the banks of the Ganga. They will work through the night, levelling the ghat and painting the boundary wall, and only put their tools down when Ram Asrey and Harish Chandra return in the morning.
This has been their draining routine for 50 days - channelising the river, widening the road and levelling the ghat- but no one is complaining. For them, this is holy work - building an abode for one of the holiest events in Hinduism, the duodecennial Maha Kumbh on the banks of the Ganga at the site of Sangam in Prayagraj between January 13 and February 26.
Denne historien er fra December 15, 2024-utgaven av Hindustan Times Jammu.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 15, 2024-utgaven av Hindustan Times Jammu.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PCB Moves ODI Series to Lahore, Karachi; Denies Delay in CT Work
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday moved the ODI tri-series, also involving South Africa and New Zealand, from Multan to Karachi and Lahore, dismissing the talks about a delay in renovation work at those venues ahead of next month's Champions Trophy.
Pat Cummins, the pace ace driving Oz success story
Knack for wickets, unparalleled control and a never-say-die attitude for which Glenn McGrath will be revered as possibly the greatest Australian fast bowler in the last four decades.
Indian hockey players bonding with the best in relaunched HIL
Skipper Sumit Walmiki and Australian Tim Brand walked to the dugout, shared a laugh and high-fived after Hyderabad Toofans' practice.
Shooter Tomar Finds Fresh High After Domestic Double
Varun Tomar's dream of representing India at the Paris Olympics was crushed when he lost in the domestic selection trials to pick the final squad.
India's uber-rich go well beyond the will
Succession planning among India's wealthy is a subject that extends far beyond simply naming heirs and dividing assets.
India Cuts November Gold Imports by Record $5 Billion
November Gold Imports Totaled $9.84 Billion, Down From the Earlier Estimate of $14.8 Billion Published Last Month
Vedanta chairman acquires London's Riverside studio
The founder and chairman of Vedanta Group Anil Agarwal is the new owner of the iconic Riverside Studio in London, announced a press release on Wednesday.
MFI portfolio declines, bad assets spike in Sep quarter
Microlending outstanding in the system reduced 4.3% to ₹4.14 lakh crore in the September quarter as lenders adopted a cautious stance amid deteriorating asset quality, a report said on Wednesday.
BP Wins Bid to Operate ONGC's Mumbai High Fields
UK's BP Plc won a bid for ONGC's giant Mumbai High oil and gas field, offering to raise crude oil production by 44% and natural gas by a staggering 89% over a 10-year period, potentially changing the fortunes of the vintage field.
Govt To Simplify Decades-Old Income Tax Filing Rules In Budget
India's government plans to simplify its income tax filing rules to make it less tedious for taxpayers to comply with the law and help cut down on disputes that have ballooned to more than $120 billion over the past decade.
