Ujjain/ Bhopal, June 27, 2026

Every Simhastha leaves behind stories. Some belong to saints and pilgrims, while others stay with the people who quietly worked behind the scenes. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav shared one such story on Saturday as he looked back on his own journey from a Scout and Guide volunteer at the Kumbh to leading Madhya Pradesh's preparations for Simhastha 2028. At the workshop, 'Experience of Simhastha 2016, Resolve for Simhastha 2028', he said the next edition would build on past experience while ensuring better facilities and smoother arrangements for the millions expected to visit Ujjain.

The workshop brought together officials and individuals who had been associated with previous editions of the Kumbh. A short film showcasing the infrastructure development underway for Simhastha 2028 was also screened. The state government expects more than 400 million devotees to visit Ujjain during the event, while nearly 40 million pilgrims are projected to take the holy Amrit Snan. To support the massive influx, work is in progress on major civic infrastructure, including the construction of 22 new bridges across the Kshipra River.

Rather than limiting his address to official announcements, Dr Yadav narrated episodes from his own journey with Simhastha. He recalled serving as a Scout and Guide volunteer during the Kumbh in the 1980s and later becoming part of the Simhastha Committee in 1992. One incident, he said with a smile, still remains fresh in his memory.

He recounted how an elderly office assistant once stopped him at the entrance of a meeting, refusing to believe that the young man standing before him could actually be Mohan Yadav. The assistant insisted that the "real" Mohan Yadav would be much older and even remarked that the visitor looked young enough to be his son. After considerable persuasion, the misunderstanding was finally cleared. The Chief Minister said such memories remind him how Simhastha has always been shaped by ordinary people working quietly behind the scenes.

Using the anecdote to make a broader point, Dr Yadav said Simhastha has never been the responsibility of a single department or a handful of officials. Every edition has benefited from the experience of volunteers, administrators, saints, local residents and service organisations. The government, he said, has deliberately not finalised all committees for

Simhastha 2028 because it wants participation to extend beyond Ujjain and include experienced contributors from across the state and the country.

The Chief Minister also reflected on Ujjain's unique spiritual identity. Describing the city as the abode of Lord Mahakal, he said generations have considered it a blessing simply to be associated with Ujjain. Religious tourism, has emerged as a major force in recent years, attracting people not only for faith but also for the cultural and historical experience that such ancient cities offer. The government's effort, he added, is to create infrastructure whose benefits continue long after the religious event concludes.

A large part of his address focused on how Ujjain has changed since earlier Simhasthas. He said accommodation was once scarce, with very few hotels available for visitors. Today, however, the city's biggest challenge is managing the sheer scale of pilgrim arrivals rather than the lack of basic facilities. Roads have been widened across key routes, major temples have been expanded, and extensive improvements have been made to public infrastructure to ease the movement of devotees.

The Chief Minister said the Kshipra River had historically posed operational challenges because its flow often shifted due to silt deposits. With permanent ghats and riverfront improvements now in place, those difficulties have largely been addressed. Efforts have also been made to improve accommodation planning so that pilgrims, particularly those traditionally dependent on dharamshalas, receive better facilities. He added that recent expansion of railway infrastructure would further strengthen the city's ability to handle the expected crowds.

Dr Yadav stressed that preparations for Simhastha cannot remain confined to Madhya Pradesh alone. Close coordination with neighbouring states, he said, will be essential for managing transport, crowd movement and public services on the routes leading to Ujjain.

As the discussions moved from memories of earlier Simhasthas to the preparations ahead, one message stood out: every experience from the past is being treated as a lesson for the future. With large-scale infrastructure works already underway and planning gathering pace, Ujjain is steadily preparing for a Simhastha that aims to match its spiritual significance with better facilities and smoother management for millions of pilgrims expected in 2028.