My Exciting Journey to Kumbh Mela

My Exciting Journey to Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela—an event that is the biggest symbol of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage—is a life-changing experience not only for the devotees but for every traveler. I too had always been eager to be a part of this amazing fair, and this time I was determined to visit Kumbh Mela at any cost.

Trip Preparations

This trip of mine was for Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. I had booked my train ticket well in advance, as I knew that traveling during Kumbh Mela can be extremely challenging. I packed the essentials in my bag—clothes, bath towel, slippers, and a camera, so that I could capture the memories of this historic trip.

First Glimpse—Ocean of Faith

As soon as my train stopped at Prayagraj Junction, I saw thousands of people crowding the station. People were chanting—“Har Har Gange!”, “Jai Ganga Maiya!”. There was a wave of devotion and excitement in the entire atmosphere. As soon as I stepped out of the station, I saw that sadhus and saints dressed in saffron clothes were roaming the streets, devotees had put a tilak on their foreheads, and bhajans and kirtans were being performed at many places.

Entering the fair—the experience was unforgettable

I entered the fair through the main gate. There were tents everywhere—some big, some small. Grand discourses were going on in the ashrams of the saints. Sadhus were engrossed in meditation with their chillum, while some were engrossed in bhajans and kirtans. Somewhere havan was being performed, somewhere yagya. Seeing all this, I felt as if I had come to some mythological era.

Amazing view of Akharas

The most special thing about the Kumbh Mela is the Akharas—where Naga sadhus come for their darshan. I moved towards the Juna Akhara. There I saw Naga sadhus—only applying ash, carrying kamandal and trishul. As tough as they looked, their sadhana was as deep.

Royal bath—the most divine experience of life

The biggest attraction for me was the royal bath. I did not want to miss this opportunity at any cost. I headed towards the bathing ghat early in the morning. The sun was about to rise, but lakhs of devotees had already gathered at the Sangam Ghat.

As soon as the procession of the Akharas came out, the atmosphere became devotional. Naga sadhus and saints of various sects came out for bathing in a royal style. In no time, they jumped into the Ganga, and the entire Sangam echoed with the proclamation of "Har Har Mahadev!". I also entered the Ganga along with the devotees and took a dip.

That moment was unforgettable. As soon as the water touched my body, a wonderful energy was transmitted. It felt as if all worries, all stress had ended. This experience cannot be described in words.

Travel and Darshan of Sangam

After bathing, I roamed around the entire fair. There were big pandals where discourses were being held. I met many saints and heard words of wisdom from them.

After this I went to Triveni Sangam. Here the Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati meet. I hired a boat and reached the Sangam site. There the boatman told me that the water here is seen in two colours—the water of Ganga is light, while that of Yamuna is dark. It was truly a divine experience.

Kumbh Mela and its strange things

Many mysterious things were also seen in Kumbh Mela. At one place I saw a baba, who was standing on just one leg for the last 10 years. He had taken this vow to fulfill his vow.

There was another sadhu, who survived only by eating ash. I was amazed to see his spiritual power.

Food and cultural colors

There were many types of dishes in the fair—crispy kachori, aloo ki sabzi, malpua, and hot jalebi. I tasted khichdi in the sadhus' langar, which was served with love and devotion.

The scene of Ganga Aarti at night was worth seeing. When hundreds of diyas were floated in the Ganga, the entire atmosphere was filled with divinity.

Farewell—Memories of faith and adventure

After staying at the Kumbh Mela for three days, it was time for me to return. I headed towards the station with a heavy heart. But this journey had given me memories and experiences of a lifetime.

Kumbh is not just a fair, but a journey of self-discovery. Coming here, I learnt that the true happiness of life lies in sacrifice, faith and service. This journey will always remain precious to me.