We are typical middle class Indians, kumbh conjures an image of unimaginable crowds, mismanagement, filthy ghats , the jostling pandas and stupid fools participating in this chaos where naga sadhus and cattle rule the roost. That is precisely how I felt till a friend decided to take his mother for this holy dip. Initially even my reaction was the same predictable one and summing it up as even dangerous, why venture at such a place after all we aren’t that religious either and our faith is also bound by our so called rational boundaries. When he returned triumphant, he was a different person, no it was not that he transformed as an individual, just a sense of fulfillment at having been part of an experience called the kumbh.
So that was the motivation which spurred me into action. An event which the world awaits with baited breath , where India always proves its detractors wrong. We can’t organise a commonwealth games but kumbh we do in our quietly efficient manner. Yes the occasional stampedes do occur but by and large we manage.
So here we were, parents and self; very bravely decided to embark on this holy pilgrimage …not sure of what awaited us . The first impression when we got off the train was itself such a sight .. a sea of mankind .. With great difficulty we managed to avoid stepping on the hundreds of people sleeping on the platform .
But we were yet to witness the ocean of humanity ..oh i have no words to describe it has to be seen to be believed …and then the mighty Ganges herself beckoning us at the “Triveni Sangam” and then the holy dip with parents ..yes it gave a sense of fulfilment .
Once in a lifetime experience ..It needs to be a must do ..part of your bucket list .
Guess what we middle class Indians are so scared but it is the firangis who are an inspiration for us . They not only visit but actually become a part of the kumbh in the real sense of the word ..a cosmos of its own