KETAN JOSHI
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Kumbh mela 2001

As I mentioned in the book, going to the Kumbh mela was a spur of the moment trip. I wanted to go, but was not getting around to it. Suddenly I got an interview call to Delhi, and thus the Mumbai Delhi Mumbai flight was taken care of! I gave the interview, went to New Delhi railway station and boarded an unreserved train for Allahabad and had to spend a freezing night sitting outside the toilet in the train! 
But alls well that ends well, and I managed to wend my way to the Kumbh Mela site
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The actual nerve centre of the mela is the meeting point - the sangam -  of the Ganga and the Yamuna - and the mythical Saraswati - rivers. The boatmen take the pilgrims to the sangam point in boats and pilgrims strip off and have a holy dip there. 
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I also went there, but did not take a dip... something that foxed the boatman completely. I was worried that the boatman might slip off with my clothes, and I would end up a naked sadhu on the ghats. 
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The Allahabad fort dominating the sangam area. This was a very important strategic fort for all rulers, and even now is occupied by the Indian army. They store their ammunition there - and will shoot you if you try to enter. Pilgrims are only admitted to see a holy tree and a Hanuman temple.
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Pilgrims drying their clothes after a holy dip
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The Kumbh village - the government arrangements were very impressive
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I dont know what he is selling - but its something very long indeed! 
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Temporary Pontoon bridges across the river
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This guy has a varied stock of religious items
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THE END IS NIGH... this guy is carrying a board saying that this will be the last kumbh, due to the sins of the politicians
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Sadhus gather for the month of the Kumbh
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Traditionally, the babas would set up their campfire - baba ki dhuni - wherever they stopped, and locals would come over to offer some food and money and take blessings and advice 
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Boatwalas come from far away places to take advantage of the mela - and indeed offer an invaluable service to all pilgrims. 
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Allahabad has contributed an amazing amount of political bigwigs to the country - and has the ancestral home of the Nehrus - a family that has contributed 3 Prime Ministers to India so far. 
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The two buildings host memorials to two PMs - One to Jawaharlal Nehru where a lot of his belongings and living areas are on display - and one to Indira Gandhi, which has a collection of wonderful photographs of her life. 
East India trip
Benares and Sarnath
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