Allahabad is now Prayagraj

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approves the change in the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj. Opposition parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party opposed the action. They said that the government wants to ‘show’ that they are working by changing names of historic cities. Some even called it a poll gimmick. 

According to multiple reports the minister wants to rename the city ahead of the 2019 Kumbh Mela that will draw seers, pundits, tantrics and others from across the country. Although, the place where Kumbh is organized is already called Prayag. 

Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi explained the root of the name. According to him, confluence of two rivers is called Prayag and since in Allahabad, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet, it is the king of all Prayags, Prayagraj.

Prayag is where Lord Brahma performed the first yagna. The confluence of two rivers is a ‘prayag’, and in Allahabad three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet. Hence, it is the king of ‘prayags’. That is why it is ‘Prayagraj’.”

Adityanath Yogi, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

Prayag is the erstwhile name of Allahabad that was changed after Mughal emperor Akbar built a fort near Sangam, where the holy rivers of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati met. He named the fort and its neighbouring area Ilahabad, which was later changed by his son Shah Jahan to Allahabad.

The UP government recently renamed the historic Mughalsarai Railway Station as well. It has been renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction as he died there.