Allahabad has got a new name. The historic city will now be called Prayagraj. The proposal to change the name was approved by the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday. The Cabinet has said that instructions will be sent to all concerned departments and institutions to follow the new order.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier on Saturday said that the name of the city will be changed if there is a consensus on the same. "Ganga aur Yamuna do pavitra nadi ka sangam ka sthal hone ke nate yahan sabhi prayago ka raaj hai, isiliye Allahabad ko Prayag raj bhi kehte hain (Two holy rivers, Ganga and Yamuna, join in Allahabad and hence there’s ‘raj’ of all ‘prayag’ (confluence of rivers). And therefore, Allahabad is also known as Prayag Raj)," he had said.
"It might be the wish of many people that Allahabad can be renamed as Prayagraj. I think that it will give a very good message. If everyone agrees, we should know this city as Prayag Raj and it can be a good start," he added.
As per some reports, banners for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in 2019 mention the name of the city as Prayagraj instead of Allahabad. The renaming might take place before the Kumbh Mela begins in Allahabad on January 15, 2019.
The proposal to change the name was floated by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Siddharth Nath Singh a few months ago where he recommended that Allahabad should be renamed as Prayagraj.
