UP bid to sell TV rights for Kumbh Mela

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A move by the Uttar Pradesh government to sell telecast and advertising rights of the coming Maha Kumbh, to be held in January 2013, has caused resentment among seers and saints who feel it’s wrong to commercialise a religious event.

“We will strongly oppose any move to sell telecast rights. How can the government even think of making money out of religious events?” asked Swami Anand Giri Maharaj, head of Ganga Sena. Acharya Govind Murari of Vrindavan was equally upset.

“This is almost like saying you will sell telecast rights of Id prayers or Christmas mass. The government should know certain events related to religion cannot be used to make money. Besides, the Kumbh Mela is not ‘owned’ by the state government, and it has no right to buy or sell rights related to it,” he said.

Senior police officials are also against the move, fearing it could create a law and order problem. The controversy, sources said, began after UP chief secretary Javed Usmani sent a letter to the Allahabad administration asking it to 'generate revenue by auctioning advertising and telecast rights' for the event.

The Kumbh Mela is held on the banks of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati and is the largest congregation of pilgrims every 12 years. The January Kumbh may attract over 35 million pilgrims.