The Kumbh Mela ( or the Festival of the Sacred Pitcher as it is called on the official website) is a gathering of devotees at a special time when the planets are favourably aligned to bathe in the rivers at four sacred places : Nashik, on the banks of the Godavari, Ujjain, on the banks of the Shipra, Haridwar on the banks of the Ganges , and at Praygraj at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the underground Saraswati.

These are the places where drops of nectar from the pot fell during the fight between the Gods and Demons. The festival is held every four years in rotation and this year it is being held in Prayagraj or Allahabad.

This is a special Maha Kumbh which occurs once every 144 years when all the Planets are lined up in a celestial Parade of the Planets.

A chance remark often sets forth an amazing journey.

If I’ve been silent so far, it’s because I’ve been preoccupied with many things ( nothing new really). A chance remark made at a casual dinner earlier this month set off an amazing experience

I have always been fascinated by the crowds that Hindu temples attract. Granted there are so many of us in this most populated nation on earth, but nowhere have I seen such frenzy and fervour as I’ve seen in our temples and religious events. So this year when the Maha Kumbha was announced, I’ve been curious about going there.

So my friend S who is very adventurous and been on many pilgrimages said she was willing to take the plunge as long as I did.

S set about in her meticulous way of contacting her travel agents and fellow satsanghis who were going to the Kumbh at various stages.

Everything was set and yesterday we had a meeting to finalise details about our journey, our stay and the places of interest we would like to visit.

Last Minute hiccups

All was fine till a friend called up to say that all roads to the Kumbh would be closed 24 hours before we would be scheduled to leave.

And in all likelihood the train we had booked for our onward journey would be summarily cancelled literally leaving us high and dry on the station platform( if we managed to get there in the first place).

Thus began the scramble to co-ordinate with an ordinary citizen on the ground who was definitely more accessible than the official Kumbh site which is manned by a truly idiotic Chat bot and whose telephone numbers do not exist.

While we are waiting for further information I get a message from a friend informing me that all roads will be closed for three days prior to

• 27 th Jan because Amit Shah would be visiting
• 5th Feb because our PM Mr. Modi is visiting
• 10th Feb because our President Smt. Murmu is visiting
• In addition 26-27 February is Maha Shivratri so it will be over crowded.

So what does that leave the ordinary practising Hindu with?

Quite frankly, I am disgusted with how VIPs get away with disrupting ordinary citizens’ lives. And to think we have voted them to power to represent us!

I am now in a quandry whether I should go or not though S has assured me that I should leave all the worrying to God. If He wants us to visit, He will make sure that we get there and back safe and sound.

What would you do in my place?

Ciao