PRAYAGRAJ, Dec. 12 -- The Magh Mela, held annually on the sacred Sangam banks of Prayagraj, is set to take on a vibrant new avatar this January. This year, the administration plans to offer pilgrims and visitors a visually striking and spiritually immersive experience by centering the event on the theme of the seven energy centers, or chakras, of the human body, officials said.

The administration had submitted a detailed proposal for a theme-based revamp of the fairgrounds, which has now received state government approval. At the core of the concept is the number seven, a figure of profound significance in Indian philosophy, religion and culture. From the seven musical notes and seven colors of the rainbow to the seven sages (Saptarishi)...