Ever since the existence of Hinduism emerged in India, this country has become the center of religiosity and spirituality all over the world. Carrying forward the religious tradition, the sages in our country gather and take a holy Mahasnaan which is called 'Kumbh Fair'. Whenever Kumbh Mela is organized in this religious ritual, crores of people participate and become a part of the Mahasnaan (HolyGrand Bath).
It is the year 2022, after Corona, life was slowly coming back on track, I was feeling the urge to join the Kumbh Mela and become a part of the royal bath. So, picking up a pair of clothes and my old Canon camera from home, I reach Delhi from where I sit in an 8-hour long bus and the bus drops me at Haridwar at 8 pm.
Being a Hindu, I feel very proud to participate in temples and religious rituals. On reaching Haridwar, I see that lakhs of devotees have reached here. I quickly find a cheap room for myself in the middle of all this. After a lot of searching, I find a room for INR 500 which I rent without wasting any time. After submitting my ID, I have dinner and go to sleep in the blanket to wake up early in the morning after a long journey.
The next morning, people are shouting loudly “Har Har Mahadev, Har Har Mahadev, Bam Bam Bhole”. I quickly get up on hearing this proclamation and when I look out of the window, a happy smile spreads on my face. Many Naga Sadhus are gathered below and are preparing themselves for the Mahasnan. On seeing this scene, I cannot stop myself and after getting ready quickly, I reach down with my camera.
First, I would like to tell you about the ‘Kumbh Mela’; This Kumbh Mela is organized once in 12 years at 4 holy places Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain and Nashik, the main and biggest Kumbh Mela is organized in Prayagraj. Before starting the Kumbh Mela, the river is worshipped in which roses, perfume, flower garlands, incense sticks, agarbatti along with many lamps are lit and holy mantras are chanted. There is a belief about the Kumbh Mela that by taking a bath here, a person becomes free from sins, by taking a bath here a person gets out of the cycle of birth and death. Apart from this, it is celebrated in Ardh Kumbh which is organized with great pomp in Haridwar and Prayagraj.
The heads of the Akharas organize the Kumbh Mela, religious ashrams, religious organizations, beggars and the general public play an important role in making it successful. Mainly, in the Mahasnan of Kumbh Mela, Juna Akhara, Mahanirvani Akhara, Niranjani Akhara, Atal Akhara, Agni Akhara, Anand Akhara and Aawahan Akhara get the first chance to take bath. After the sadhus of these Akharas take bath, the general public takes bath in the river and washes away their sins.
I come down and see the Naga sadhus getting ready, all the sadhus have smeared their bodies with ash obtained from human funeral pyres, have decorated their heads, necks and hands with marigold flowers, some have a damru on their heads, some have a moon and some have a snake. Almost all the sadhus have taken scriptures in their hands in which they have trident, sword, spear and tongs. Some are singing bhajans by playing the damru while some are mesmerizing the city of Haridwar by blowing conch.
Disclaimer: This post is originally written in Hindi and I have used Google Translator to tranlate the Hindi text in English. All the photos have been clicked by me from Canon 77D (18-55mm) and edited in Lightroom/photoshop.