Mahakumbh 2025 cleanliness drive set to break its own record. Photo: X/@SwachhKumbh Mahakumbh 2025 cleanliness drive set to break its own record. Photo: X/@SwachhKumbh

As many as 15365jdb,000 sanitation workers attempted to set a Guinness World Record as they carried out a synchronised cleanliness drive across four zones here on Monday.

Recently, I have developed a new habit. When anyone asks about my age, I say in jest, “Officially I’m look-and-feel-good-for-my-age years old, though unofficially I am 53." This roundabout way of response has nothing to do with feeling awkward about how old I am, rather I try to kill two birds with a stone, anticipating a frequently asked question about whether ageing has been as graceful as bird on a wing. I often wonder, does age have grace? For grace is about behaviour, manners, and how one treats others with respect and charm irrespective of age.

Like many women of her time, my mother’s face is almost unlined through eight decades, and though she has stopped using lipstick,66jogo the only makeup she has ever used, she continues colouring her hair more out of habit rather than vanity; even inculcating my father into the ceremony, when a frozen shoulder prevented her from doing it herself. It gives her the dubious privilege of being the only one, among all her many siblings and relatives, who is not sporting a halo of grey.

Prayagraj Mayor Ganesh Kesarwani, Mahakumbh's Special Executive Officer Akanksha Rana and the Guinness Book of World Records supervisory team were present on the occasion, according to an official statement.

The statement said that chief supervisor and judge Rishi Nath from the Guinness Book of World Records had arrived in Prayagraj from London with his team. The sanitation workers were counted by scanning the code on their wristbands.

The final validation report of the record will be released after three days, according to the statement.

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In the 2019 Kumbh held in Prayagraj, 10,000 sanitation workers created a Guinness World Record by participating in a synchronised cleanliness drive.

Kesarwani said the attempt at a world record has sent a powerful message of cleanliness from the holy land of Prayagraj to the world.

Uttar Pradesh Urban Development and Energy Minister AK Sharma said the Maha Kumbh has emerged as the world's largest religious, spiritual and cultural event and the sanitation workers are the true heroes who have made it successful.

"They worked day and night to keep the Kumbh Mela area clean365jdb," he was quoted as saying by the statement. PTI RAJ/NAVRHL