Allahabad is among the largest cities in Uttar Pradesh. Hindu
mythology has it that for the Prakrishta Yajna, Lord Brahma, the
creator God of the Trinity, chose a land on earth, on which the
three rivers would flow in to a quiet confluence. Brahma also
referred to it as Tirth Raj or the King of all pilgrimage
centres. Recorded evidence also exists in the revered scriptures
(the Vedas and the grand epics, the Ramayana and the
Mahabharata, as also in the Puranas) of this holy place formerly
called Prayag. Allahabad stands at the confluence of two of
India's holiest rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna. Sangam, as the
confluence is called, is the venue of many sacred fairs and
rituals, and attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year.
This number swells to millions during the world-famous Kumbh
Mela. An annual Magh Mela is also held in Allahabad around the
Sangam areas in the month of January (Magh is the name of month
in Hindu calendar). A third mythical Saraswati river, believed
to flow underground towards t