Call of the Maha Kumbh

The year began with high-pitched coverages of the upcoming Kumbh Mela’s mega preparations at Prayagraj. Many would have brushed it aside as any other event. But when the actual billing of the occasion popped up, once in a 144-year event is here to relieve one of his all paapas (sins), with a dip in the holy water at Triveni Sangama—the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers—then the billion vibrations of devout astiks (believers) erupted as a desire to be part of the action.

All of humanity seemed to resonate with the Vedic calling, compelling me to hop onto the wagon to Prayagraj.

Perhaps never in contemporary history has one been witness to such an unending swarm of humanity moving towards Prayagraj in a radius of more than 800 km encompassing Nagpur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi, Patna, and Kolkata. Miles of traffic jams at toll booths were common, but the public did not seem restless as they were bound for a holy dip.

After getting down, you have only one sure shot option to reach the Sangam: a long walk just as the multitudes of sea of astiks, rich-poor, literate-illiterate urbanite-countryfolk, celebrity-commoner, young-old, and sick-healthy were all brushing shoulders along the sandy path to the Sangam.

Leaving behind the worries of long travel, hardships endured, and expenses incurred, every face was aglow in anticipation of a lifetime experience of asta ki dubki (dip of devotion).

It was as if the whole of Uttar Pradesh’s administration, police, and youths-on-bikes were on their toes to help you out and make this mega event a grand success.

After inching towards the epicentre of asta, Sangam, I was all set for the Amiritsnan; a feeling of chosen punyapurush (blessed soul) dawned on me. Reciting the ‘Gangecha...Yamunecha...’ to invoke the seven rivers as is customary, I plunged myself three times into the water, and when I finally rose, it was a feeling of being purified and rejuvenated to the depth of my soul.

The feeling of contentment is beyond words; it can only be soaked in. The rejuvenation felt cannot be solely due to my own belief but surely due to the billions of astik vibrations that have gone into it.