Allahabad Gets Renamed As ‘Prayagraj’ And Twitter Has Some Mixed Feelings About It

The city of Allahabad, as we know it, is about to change. Or rather, you could say it is reclaiming an identity that was lost in history but still remembered in its people’s psyche.

The cabinet of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cleared the proposal for renaming the historic city of Allahabad to Prayagraj.

#BREAKING | Allahabad gets a new name. The city will now be known as Prayagraj: UP Cabinet. | #AllahabadNowPrayagraj pic.twitter.com/zXpVe3d7of

— CNNNews18 (@CNNnews18) October 16, 2018

This reclaiming of the city’s old Vedic name ‘prayag’ comes just in time for the Ardh Kumbh Mela, which will take place in January next year.

For those not aware, during the Vedic period, the city was known as Prayāga. It also gets a mention in the Vedaas the location where Brahma (the creator of the universe) attended a ritual sacrifice after creation.

A bit of naming history on #Allahabad / #Prayag, both in Mughal times and more recently (from Kama Maclean's Pilgrimage and Power) –#Prayagraj pic.twitter.com/69fUiUOyQr

— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) October 15, 2018

Therefore, it’s not exactly a new name, but rather a revert to the old one, which is still quite commonly used to refer to the city.

Twitter has had some mixed reactions to the name change from Allahabad to Prayagraj.

While the Opposition has condemned this name change and called it a gimmick, the people are not too sure how to react. This is usually the case in all major cities being renamed, where though the official name might change, the emotion and ease of usage associated with the old one continues to prevail. (case in point: Bombay, Bangalore, Calcutta, and so on)

Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue….

What's in a name? Ask the folks from #Allahabad who have the tonugue twisting #Prayagraj heaped on them https://t.co/CaU0vS5ZRx

— Bindu Rai (@BinduRai) October 16, 2018

Koena Mitra sure seems on board with the name change.

Prayagraj is back after 443 years!!
Thank you @myogiadityanath ji.
I look forward to '2019 kumbh' in Prayagraj. #PRAYAGRAJ #YogiAdityanath https://t.co/XdAIfk9lis

— Koena Mitra (@koenamitra) October 16, 2018

It’s got a nice ring to it!

#Prayagraj sounds good to the ears 😍#Allahabad done and dusted 🙏#AllahabadNowPrayagraj pic.twitter.com/fGQyhUOvCa

— Amit 🗣️ (@UntamedIndian) October 16, 2018

A Tale of Two City… Names!

*Boy from Allahabad born in Oct 18*

"I was born in Allahabad and brought up in Prayagraj"

#AllahabadNowPrayagraj

— Amey Kulkarni (@Kulkarnium) October 16, 2018

Named after those ingenious UP cops who scared of goons with a mere “thaain thaain“!

Legends, those guys.

https://twitter.com/SahilBulla/status/1052104020616237058

Is this Applied Economics?

https://twitter.com/AtomicBlow/status/1051739274242998272

UP Government and their priorities….

Lately I have traveled to #Allahabad frequently. The city is in shambles, desperately needs better roads and infrastructure especially given the fact that the #MahaKumbh is barely 3 months away. Shouldn’t that be priority over name changes? #Prayagraj @myogiadityanath

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) October 16, 2018

I am happy that my city is renamed #Prayagraj but sir @myogiadityanath if you can do something to fasten up the process of construction of roads and flyovers, it will be a great help to us.

— Snowy (@ek_baat_sun) October 16, 2018

The sarcasm is heavy in this one.

I m sure once we r done renaming all places to thr Original Hindu names all these places will bcom-
Safe havens for women & children
Agriculture & small Industries will flourish
People will stop throwing garbage

Cant wait for tht magic to start happening#Allahabad to #Prayagraj https://t.co/TwCSiFle2s

— Saqib Khawaja 🇮🇳 ثاقب 🇮🇳 (@Saqibkhawaja_) October 16, 2018

The praise and criticism notwithstanding, the intellectual Twitterati raised a very major concern that might arise now that Allahabad is Prayagraj….

Bruh, what will happen to Allahabad Bank now?

#Prayagraj Will the bank name also be changed?

— Pradeep Kumar S (@pradeepkumar008) October 16, 2018

https://twitter.com/ambade_akash/status/1052110085743304706

And then, there was another brilliant suggestion for renaming a city….

Now that Allahabad is going to be renamed Prayagraj, Yogiji might also want to consider renaming Kanpur as Pan Parag Raj.

— PuNsTeR™ (@Pun_Starr) October 15, 2018

People of Prayagraj, congrats on the new-old name!