(L to R) Laurene Powell Jobs, the billionaire widow of Steve Jobs; Naga Sadhus arrive to take a dip during the third "Shahi Snan" at "Kumbh Mela"
Credit: Reuters Photo
Lucknow: While many VIPs and VVIPs, seers and saints will be taking part in the forthcoming 'Mahakumbh' starting January 13 on the bank of the ‘Sangam’ -- the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the Mythical Sarswati rivers -- in Prayagraj, the real attraction of the Fair has always been the thousands of 'kalpavasis'.
'Kalpavasis', who include men and women, mainly drawn from the villages across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Bihar, spend an entire month on the sandy banks, enduring the biting cold while faithfully following the daily rituals.
These 'kalpavasis' would take bath in the Ganga every day and visit the camps of different seers and saints to listen to the sermons and attend ‘bhajan and kirtan’ (singing of religious songs).
Shabbily dressed while carrying their bags containing eatables, clothes and other items of daily use on their heads, the 'kalpavasis' have started arriving on the banks of the Ganga. They also brought with them wood, hay and bamboo to be used for cooking food and making tents.
Among them this time would be a few billionaires and notable figures.
According to the reports, Laurene Powell Jobs, the billionaire widow of Steve Jobs, who was co-founder and former CEO of Apple, will also be observing 'kalpavas' at the Mahakumbh.
She is likely to arrive at the Fair on January 13 and would be staying at the camp of Swami Kaliashananda, the ‘Mahamnadleshwar’ of Niranjani Akhara. She will stay at the Mahakumbh till January 29.
Reports said that Laurene would be taking holy dip at the ‘Sangam’ and also attend the sermons.
According to the Hindu mythology, the ‘Kalpavas’ is an age-old practice rooted in the Hindu tradition. In the word ‘Kalpavas’, ‘kalpa’ denotes a long period while ‘vas’ denotes living. This period is usually the Hindu calendar month of ‘Magha’ (January-February).
The ‘kalpavasis’ follow a disciplined lifestyle, which includes taking bath in the sacred river before dawn followed by meditation, worship and attending religious discourses.