PART I
It is unfair and impossible to summarize my experience at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Come January 2019, the world’s largest religious gathering, the Ardh Kumbh Mela took place in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad. The Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela 2019, commenced from January 15 and and ended today, March 4. This year I decided to attend.
As long as I can remember, my family has always participated in the Kumbh Mela. This year, it was held at the Triveni Sangam, the meeting points of three rivers – the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Sarasvati in Prayagraj. There are one-too many exceptional spiritual experiences from my visit but I will highlight three in the blog posts below. I have tried to capture my experience through photographs and videos.
First, the Naga Sadhus. Imagine, these Naga sadhus have coils of matted hair and have their naked bodies smeared with holy ash. They usually carry a trident that are crowned with human skulls. While they look fierce, these sadhus are the most non-violent group of people, who have renounced all materialistic goods and become one with nature living a life of oblivion and avoiding human contact. Given this, they do not appear in public with the exception of the Kumbh Mela. I spent an afternoon in their Akhada (their designated home space for a temporary time period) - sat with them, ate prasaad, and listened to their music for hours at a stretch. They were fierce, powerful, wise, and intimidating yet simultaneously heartfelt, caring, and protective. An experience that will forever be etched in my spirit.
