PILGRIM VOICES

DELHI

“THE ENERGY LEVEL IS SO HIGH”

WE CAME HERE YESTERDAY. I had an early morning snan (holy dip) today and felt really blissful. This is the fourth Kumbh we are attending. I have been doing Sivangi sadhana for the past few days in conjunction with the full moon of Thai Pusam, which is supposed to be very powerful. The sadhana lasts 42 days and includes fasting, penance and begging, which I am doing now. The pilgrims’ faith and desire for liberation unites them all, brings them here and connects them with so many sampradayas, saints, Gods and Goddesses. The energy level is so high here that it is difficult to explain in words. Only those who are here to taste this atmosphere can understand.

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Dinesh Shah, a hotel consultant, begging during the Kumbh as part of his 42-day sadhana during the event
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DELHI

“HINDU DHARMA IS THE BEST”

AT PAST KUMBH MELAS THERE was not so much rush, and the number of people was much less. The morning snan was easily manageable. This morning, when we went for the snan, it turned to be no less than a battle of Mahabharata, as there was so much rush. We could undertake the snan only with great difficulty. One big difference now is that I am aged. When I was young, I used to run to reach the ghats. In no other country can you see the kind of faith Hindus have in their dharma. After attending five Kumbh Melas, my own conclusion is that Hindu dharma is the best dharma in the world.

Shri Har Lal Gupta (far right), 73, a merchant, and wife Maya Devi (far left) with friends meeting Swami Gopal Sharan Devacharya
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CALIFORNIA

“JUST AMAZING”

IHAVE BEEN COMING TO INDIA for four years. Initially, I came to learn more yoga, and I gradually got interested in the Indian culture. I came here right after the first bathing day. The magnitude of the festival is amazing. It is wonderful sitting around the dhunis (sacred fires). You can read books about the Kumbh Mela, you can see it on the Internet, but you cannot understand what it is unless you come here. The amazing energy of walking down the wide Sangam Road has to be experienced to know what Kumbh is. You see people walking singing beautiful bhajans. I think the beauty and magnitude of the faith at such a great level is something worth experiencing. It really does not matter what your label of religion is, the spiritual vibrations and energy here would just seep into your consciousness.

Kimberly “Kamala” Jordan, yoga teacher from Los Angeles
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