Since I was a child I have been hearing about the Indian culture and its diversity in different forms or the other. From the world famous food to what people wear and how they talk, music, dance, art etc it is all different at every 100 kms of the country. With many other things one word that I heard about the most was the “Kumbha mela”. This is one affair where you can see the culture and diversity in its purest forms.
Kumbh Mela or Kumbha Mela is a very descriptive story, a decomposed manuscript, an echo of noises and a celebration of practices. It is place with muddy pavements, saffron in the air and on the foreheads, loudspeakers and people rejoicing with happiness and peace. Years back I used to laughingly dismiss the fact of going to a place which was always characterized in my mind as chaos and discomfort. As a kid I always wondered how people sustain these hardships coming from far off areas. What is the source of their rituals, how do they maintain their punctilious schedule and survive through this with minimal provisions. Most of them are seen with meager belongings- a pair of clothes and footwear. After having a visit to this holy event my thoughts were totally different, I had never been so mesmerized and in a state of peace before. That one dip in the holy Sangam made a difference in my spiritual life and thoughts. Kumbha mela is for all – For those who can afford a 10,000 Rs per tent per night with all the facilities available to those who can simply pass their night on the Ghats of Sangam with only the natural facilities of mother nature.
The history of Kumbha Mela goes back to the time when the Devas or the demi-gods had a fight against the Asuras- the demons to take the custody of the Amrita –the drink of immortality. During this fight it is said that Lord Vishnu dropped the “Amrita” at four different places now named as Allahabad, Ujjain, Hardwar and Nasik. As the Amrita was dropped at these four places, the places became blessed and divine with rivers and it came into a belief that people would get rid of their sins if they took a dip in any of these holy rivers and thy shall attain “Moksha”.
Being a traveler myself I enjoyed every bit of my stay in this holy place. From the cultural events to the tourist walks, waterways, laser light shows, thematic gates everything was worth giving a try. I visited the Kumbha Mela on the “Makar Sakranti Shahi Snan” and believe me it was an experience that should not be missed, should you decided to visit the Kumbha Mela.
If I were to sum it all I would have missed a chance of a lifetime and I not visited this grand affair. This place has a charm of its own. Now even I can proudly narrate stories to my known people and tell them about my great experience at the Kumbha Mela with an ear to ear smile.
Chairman, Pro Boxing India