“It is wondeful, the power of faith like that, can make multitudes
upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter
without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and
endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love or
done in fear: I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse
is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of
people, the cold whites.". I visited Mahakumbh decades ago. I just
cannot forget it. I found it as one magnificent expression immense
gratitude and of oneness with nature. Long Live Mahakumbh.”
American Traveler-Mark Twain rightly said this as he witnessed the biggest religious gathering on earth on the banks of Sangam - the convergence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati .Maha Kumbh is not just a confluence of our cultures and traditions ,It is a synonym for spirituality that could awake the eternal flow of humanity, It is an ancient wisdom of sages, a deep connection with our universe wherein, the holy rivers signifies the flow of humanity in our lives. The Kumbh Festival is held at Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years, but the Kumbh at Prayag has a special significance. Allahabad hosted the first big congregation of the Maha Kumbh, which takes place once in 144 years after the completion of a dozen 12-year Kumbh cycles.
The mammoth event from 12th century which was at a small scale then, this year estimated to draw around 100 million visitors, including 60,000 foreigners, kicked off with the Makar Sankranti festival. For once in 12 years the Kumbh Nagri becomes the city of tents with a roughly area of 3000 football fields that greets travelers with smoke, dust and Noises. Wherein, the first task for any traveler to this religious gathering is to imbibe the whole atmosphere drenched with the charm of dharma, the innocence of beliefs and passion of holy prayers.
On the way to the Sangam, you would see signboards instructing you what not to do especially – “Wash your sins in the Ganges, not your clothes". Lost relative messages spewing from the loud-speakers, Hindu chants from different assembling and religious lectures blasting from hundreds of compounds adorned with fluorescent peacocks and flashing goddesses are just a glance to the widespread happenings in Mela premises. The bright colors of spirituality can be seen in contrast to the subtle sand and the tents, Saffron inevitably takes over the whole view of Mela.
In this enthusiastic procession, One may find any kind of person from around the world ,right from newly initiated bald and half naked, dancing Sadhus to foreigners from different parts of the earth performing their rituals along the banks of the river Ganges. The contrasting view at the Mela presents a common ground for each individual that initiated him to be a part of The Maha Kumbh that is none other than our religious beliefs. On the other hand, Maha Kumbh turned out to be a place to know more about India for foreigners and carry out research on different aspects like health, sanitation and efficiency of Indian Government. Though the things were seemingly up to date with sufficient number of Health care centers and camps targeted to upper middle class who wish to wash their sins with modern amenities at hand.
When it comes to our common need –Food, there are different kinds of Bhandaras which happens almost daily at the Mela right for foreigners organized by Pilot Baba to general Bhandara. Apart from that snacks includes Churmura, Gol gappe , Sprouts with chopped vegetables (mainly tomato and onion), and Aloo Tikki which are just a few to name.
The 55-day Mela will conclude on March 10 with the Maha Shivratri festival. Up till the Maghi Purnima Snan of Monday, February 25, more than 70 million pilgrims from all over the world are expected to converge on the banks of the Holy Sangam. That is about 200 times the number of pilgrims who had gathered for the Kumbh Mela at Haridwar in 1904. Meanwhile, Allahbad city has become a city for all irrespective of any worldly barriers of caste, creed, colour and religion.
- Written for Foodiescompass.com
upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter
without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and
endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love or
done in fear: I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse
is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of
people, the cold whites.". I visited Mahakumbh decades ago. I just
cannot forget it. I found it as one magnificent expression immense
gratitude and of oneness with nature. Long Live Mahakumbh.”
American Traveler-Mark Twain rightly said this as he witnessed the biggest religious gathering on earth on the banks of Sangam - the convergence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati .Maha Kumbh is not just a confluence of our cultures and traditions ,It is a synonym for spirituality that could awake the eternal flow of humanity, It is an ancient wisdom of sages, a deep connection with our universe wherein, the holy rivers signifies the flow of humanity in our lives. The Kumbh Festival is held at Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years, but the Kumbh at Prayag has a special significance. Allahabad hosted the first big congregation of the Maha Kumbh, which takes place once in 144 years after the completion of a dozen 12-year Kumbh cycles.
The mammoth event from 12th century which was at a small scale then, this year estimated to draw around 100 million visitors, including 60,000 foreigners, kicked off with the Makar Sankranti festival. For once in 12 years the Kumbh Nagri becomes the city of tents with a roughly area of 3000 football fields that greets travelers with smoke, dust and Noises. Wherein, the first task for any traveler to this religious gathering is to imbibe the whole atmosphere drenched with the charm of dharma, the innocence of beliefs and passion of holy prayers.
On the way to the Sangam, you would see signboards instructing you what not to do especially – “Wash your sins in the Ganges, not your clothes". Lost relative messages spewing from the loud-speakers, Hindu chants from different assembling and religious lectures blasting from hundreds of compounds adorned with fluorescent peacocks and flashing goddesses are just a glance to the widespread happenings in Mela premises. The bright colors of spirituality can be seen in contrast to the subtle sand and the tents, Saffron inevitably takes over the whole view of Mela.
In this enthusiastic procession, One may find any kind of person from around the world ,right from newly initiated bald and half naked, dancing Sadhus to foreigners from different parts of the earth performing their rituals along the banks of the river Ganges. The contrasting view at the Mela presents a common ground for each individual that initiated him to be a part of The Maha Kumbh that is none other than our religious beliefs. On the other hand, Maha Kumbh turned out to be a place to know more about India for foreigners and carry out research on different aspects like health, sanitation and efficiency of Indian Government. Though the things were seemingly up to date with sufficient number of Health care centers and camps targeted to upper middle class who wish to wash their sins with modern amenities at hand.
When it comes to our common need –Food, there are different kinds of Bhandaras which happens almost daily at the Mela right for foreigners organized by Pilot Baba to general Bhandara. Apart from that snacks includes Churmura, Gol gappe , Sprouts with chopped vegetables (mainly tomato and onion), and Aloo Tikki which are just a few to name.
The 55-day Mela will conclude on March 10 with the Maha Shivratri festival. Up till the Maghi Purnima Snan of Monday, February 25, more than 70 million pilgrims from all over the world are expected to converge on the banks of the Holy Sangam. That is about 200 times the number of pilgrims who had gathered for the Kumbh Mela at Haridwar in 1904. Meanwhile, Allahbad city has become a city for all irrespective of any worldly barriers of caste, creed, colour and religion.
- Written for Foodiescompass.com