Understand
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 the Sangam, gives the confluence its other name, Triveni.
Emperor Akbar renamed this city in 1575 and called it by name of Illahabas, which has now become modern Allahabad. The monarch realized its strategic importance as a waterway landmark in North India and also built a magnificent fort on the banks of the holy Sangam.
Over the centuries that followed, Allahabad remained on the forefront of national importance, more so during the days of the Indian independence struggle. The chequered history of Allahabad with its religious, cultural and historical ethos also gave rise to several renowned scholars M. N. Saha, Harishchandra, Ravindra Khattree, Amar Nath Jha, poets Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Mahadevi Verma, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Sumitra Nandan Panth, writers Mahadevi Verma, Ramkumar Verma, Jagdish Gupta, thinkers Purusottam Das Tandon, statesmen and leaders Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlala Nehru, Murli Manohar Joshi and the actor Amitabh Bachchan.
The city being an important cantonment during the British Raj has some beautiful remnants of colonial architecture. In the early 20th century, University of Allahabad was the foremost center of learning in the country. Allahabad, today is an important city where history, culture and religion create a confluence, much like the sacred rivers that caress this God-graced land.
Allahabad used to have a thriving industrial suburb Naini till the 1980s, but then those public sector units started closing down one by one, forcing entire generations of young educated Allahabadis to migrate out of the city in search of work. Today, Allahabad is slowly inching along in its dream to be an IT hub. And the government adminsitrative offices remain alive and kicking.
In Allahabad, you can enjoy
The politeness of "Aap" and "Hum" the singular "you" and "I" is rarely used.
The subtle sense of humour of the person on the street
The fun of walking and travelling on rickshaws
