Allahabad administration asks Bollywood to refrain from promoting films at Kumbh Mela

Alarmed by the news that Ekta Kapoor was going to take Emraan Khan, Huma Qureshi, composer Vishal Bharadwaj to the ongoing Kumbh mela on the Mauni Amavasya day on 10 February to take a dip at the holy Sangam and pray for the success of her ensuing release EK Thi Dayan, the UP government has asked people in Bollywood to refrain from visiting the ongoing Maha Kumbh for promotion of their upcoming films. On the contrary, the administration has advised them to schedule private visits, if any, on days other than the main bathing festivals. "Since we do not want any stampede-like situation at the congregation, we are going to write to various filmmakers who may be planning to visit the congregation along with their cast and crew members," said Divisional Commissioner of Allahabad Devesh Chaturvedi. "We are going to make it clear that no promotional activity by those in the film industry will be allowed at the Kumbh. They may, however, visit the congregation privately for taking a holy dip at the Sangam or participating in religious discourses,” he added. "They will have to ensure that their tour remains inconspicuous, without any fanfare and they must not come on main bathing festivals like Mauni Amavasya (February 10) and Basant Panchmi (February 15) when the influx of visitors to the city is exceptionally higher than usual," Chaturvedi maintained. He however went on to observe that film personalities can undertake publicity work in parts of the cities that are not in the vicinity of the Kumbh area, on days other than the bathing festivals. Interestingly, it was also reported that choreographer-filmmaker Prabhu Deva was planning a promotional event for his upcoming film Any Body Can Dance (ABCD), at the Kumbh.