Go for #Kumbh. It is on till Mahashivratri. Don’t miss it for many reasons.

Of all the spiritual talks this year, Kumbh has been the focal point. If you are an Indian, I am sure you have heard about it. 4th March is the last Shahi Snan (royal bath) in the ongoing Kumbh. All I want to say is, don’t miss it.

The last royal Snan at Kumbh is overlapping with Mahashivratri. Make the most of it.

Mahashivratri is an auspicious day and definitely one of the biggest days of Kumbh Mela. So if you are still confused about going to Kumbh 2019 in Prayagraj, don’t think much and just go. Ever since I visited the Mela and shared my experience, I have been flooded with lots of queries and genuine questions. People have been asking me about the arrangements, about the crowd, about the security and most importantly about the much-heard cleanliness drive of the rivers. I answered them as honestly as I could and I am glad I also helped some of them plan their trip. Here is my experience and understanding of Kumbh from Mauni Amavasya. In the below article, I wish to elaborate more on it and also emphasize on why you should not miss it for any reason.

Q&A’s

1. So how are the arrangements? Everything is well-managed, looks under control and you will not feel unattended, lost or confused anywhere.
2. How to reach? Prayagraj is reachable by Air, Rail or by Road. During Kumbh , 1000 city buses are plying. You just need to have a time table booklet. Pre-paid taxi, erickshaws, tonga rides, everything is available.
3. Is taking a dip easy? Yes, it is. You can take a boat and reach the sangam area. If you don’t want to go to the triveni, you can see people taking a dip all around. Find a corner and just jump in.
4. How much do you have to walk? On some days, you might have to do more walking else its not much of a walk. Especially on the royal bathing days, the crowd multiplies and thus vehicles are not allowed beyond certain points. The pontoon bridges make life simpler. The movement of crowd is controlled on them also. Some pontoon bridges are restricted for going and some for returning, only. Keep asking the policemen or the security staff. They are very helpful.
5. Is there any kind of chaos? There is none! There is medical care, sanitary alertness, severe top up by security and great enthusiasm. You may stop and ask the people in uniform and they will help in all ways possible. Kumbh is a place where people get lost but if you are alert, if you keep in close vicinity of your family and friends, nothing will happen.

Why Kumbh?

Because until you go there, you will never understand what it stands for. With just few days left to the conclusion of one of the biggest spiritual conglomeration, I would definitely recommend a visit to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. I bet you will be mesmerized with its charms, colours, variety,
grandeur and the whole concept of washing away sins by taking a holy dip in the trio of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. And above all, it is the biggest carnival of faith and spiritualism, which inspires for the higher purpose of life. Until you visit Kumbh, observe its magnanimity and talk to the pilgrims and Naga Sadhus, you will never know what the whole energy is about.

An unforgettable experience!

For me, Kumbh will always be an unforgettable experience. This was the first time that I really got close to the idea of congregation of millions of people, the exquisite energy and deep devotion that fills the place. UNESCO has even listed it as “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” . Next time, I would love to go for a deeper understanding. You still have a chance if you have not been there. You still have time till 4th of March and if you want to see what a royal bathing day looks like, Mahashivratri is the day to plan for. It would be good to see the closing of Ardh Kumbh.

Our religious books talk greatly about Kumbh. The Mela is considered to be a celebration , a festival of glory, of knowledge, of divinity and life. It is both, overwhelming and mesmerizing. The gathering is a once in a lifetime kind of experience. It is the biggest spectacle of faith, irrespective of any worldly barriers, caste, creed, colour and religion. That is why it is considered as the most scared and greatest of Indian festivals. Sangam, the confluence of the three rivers is considered to be very-very sacred. There is a belief that the ashram of the Maharaj Bharadwaj, where Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman visited during exile was located at the Sangam. Thus, it is considered very auspicious and pure.

Kumbh is a very photogenic place. It is full of faces, emotions and demeanor of all sorts. Every photographer looks forward to capturing it because of its significance, of throngs of people, its ambiance, various moods and sacredness. This was my first time when I explored it as a traveler and saw it from a amateur photographers eyes. The whole experience is unforgettable. Everything about the place was absolutely vibrant and beautiful. There was so much energy, emotion and enthusiasm. The coming together of thousands of pilgrims was like a grand celebration, unlike anything, that we get to see in our day to day life. Some of my captures will always bring back lovely memories.

And here are some of the things will assure you that it was definitely one of the most efficiently and green-obsessed event of the year.

The target was Zero discharge of sewage in River Ganga. Zero disposal of garbage within the Mela. Zero burning or burial of garbage in the Mela grounds. I am glad atleast someone thought about it strongly.

Scientific treatment of garbage at waste treatment plant and minimum open defecation. One could actually see dustbins just when you needed them. As per facts, there was one dustbin at every 50 meters. Almost 2000 metric tonnes of garbage was collected and treated on the peak days. That is so amazing.

1,22,500 toilets were installed, including 20,000 urinals. The toilets were placed at very prominent places and were accessible. 20,000 sanitation workers worked round the clock. There was technology enabled monitoring for toilet cleanliness. All of this sounds great as I am putting down from the booklet that I brought back from Kumbh.

Kumbh is quite a story of human empowerment too. 20,000 sanitation workers and 2000 sanitation volunteers were engaged for sanitation work. It is indeed a #Swachhumbh. This also proves that we need not compromise on cleanliness and hygiene. If government authorities want, we can achieve the desired level. Its just that people have to do their work. Happy travelling!