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| "Prayag Kumbh ki Yatra" | | | Jamwal Mahadeep Singh | 2/22/2019 10:43:49 PM |
| The Prayagraj city (Allahabad, UP) at present has briefly turned into possibly the most populous place on the face of earth because of ongoing Kumbh festival. According to medieval Hindu mythology, the origin of the festival can be found in the ancient legend of samudra manthan. 'Amrita' was produced and placed in a kumbha (pot). To prevent the 'Asuras' (malevolent beings) from seizing the 'Amrita', a divine carrier flew away with the pot. As per the Hindu legend, the gods and the demons fought over pot of immortality elixir. During the fight, the elixir dropped in four places, Haridwar, Ujjain, Allahabad and Nasik and those four places are where the Kumbh Mela takes place. The Kumbh Mela in India is as mesmerizing as it is spiritual and meeting of mystical minds. This ancient northern Indian festival is a meeting of the largest religious gathering in the world. The Kumbh Mela brings Hindu holy men together to discuss their faith and disseminate information about their religion. It's attended by millions of people and in recognition of the festival's importance, in December 2017, UNESCO included the Kumbh Mela on its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
The 'Shahi Snan' also called as 'Rajyog Snan' refers to the holy bath in the holy river during the 'Kumbh Mela' as in Ganges at Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Kshipra river at Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Godavari river in Nasik (Maharashtra) and at confluence point of Ganges, Yamuna and mystic Saraswati at Paryagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh. The main ritual is the ritual bath. Hindus believe that submerging themselves in the sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the new moon will absolve them and their ancestors of sin, thus ending the cycle of rebirth. The fifth 'Shahi Sanan' during ongoing Kumbh at Prayagraj on the day of "Maghi Purnima" on 19 February, 2019, witnessed approximately more than 1.25 crore people, a convergence of human faith and culture, presenting a mesmerizing, wave-like picture of human heads submerging and emerging together from the water amid the chants of 'Har Har Gangey', a number almost equal to the population of the country Guinea (1.27 crore), took the holy dip at Sangam (Prayagraj, UP), a confluence point of three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mystical Saraswati. The two rivers maintain their visible identity and can be identified by their different colors. The water of the Ganges is clear, while that of the Yamuna is greenish in color. From here the holy rivers moves ahead as one stream and empty into Bay of Bengal. Believed that Hindu God on this day of 'Maghi Purnima' descend from heaven to take holy dip at confluence point of Holy rivers.
Being proud to be part of this day congregation, I thought it to be my pleasure to pen down my experience as a piece of slight guidance, who are planning not to miss the last but very auspicious sixth 'Shahi Snan' of ongoing Kumbh at Pryagraj, falling on the day of 'Shivratri' on 4th March 2019. Those planning their trip by train from J&K it is the 'Udhampur-Allahabad Super Fast Express train number 22432' that takes us to Allahabad junction from Udhampur and Jammu stations. I will not shy away to apprise the travelers about this train that although claimed to be Super Fast but, most slower train and mainly always late by 5 to 6 hours. The expected travelling time to cover a distance of 1235 kms, is approximately 22.55 hours but it takes 26 to 27 hours and most amazing part is no pantry services are available. From security point there is no deployment of even a single constable from RPF so in that context, it is you who have to maintain your own security. The arrival at the Allahabad junction makes us some disturbing as we witness thousand numbers of passengers on the station, arriving and leaving. But the deployment of sufficient number of security personals welcome us with smiling faces and always at the forefront to advice you about all your quarries. To avoid unnecessary inconvenience, it is advisable to have pre-arranged accommodation either in private hotels and lodges or in the facilities provided by various Akharas, other saintly people or by the Government in Kumbh city. Moreover one must keep in mind that he has to travel at least 4 to 5 kilometers on foot to reach the 'Snan Ghats' from last parking facility. Those aspiring to take dip at the confluence point 'Triveni Ghat', they will get boats but those (private persons) providing this facility burden our pockets than justifiable amount. This aspect appeared to have been left over by the managing authorities of the Kumbh fair. The Mela authorities have failed to fix any rates for ferrying the pilgrims to the confluence point of three holy rivers thus leaving the holy dip seekers at the mercy of these private operators.
On the other, massive security and functional arrangements have been made for peaceful bathing. The Puranic legend has been forcefully displayed on the Kumbha fair in order to show Puranic authority for it. The Kumbh Mela has been successfully adapted to Allahabad and has arguably become the greatest Mela in modern India. This year's (election year) Mela in Prayraj is costliest ever at an expenses of Rs. 4236 crore, which is more than thrice the budget of the Maha Kumbh in 2013 at the same place, according to a PTI report. The UP government has allocated Rs. 4,200 crore for 2019 Kumbh Mela. The previous state government had spent around Rs. 1,300 crore for the Maha Kumbh, which was held in 2013. Of the 4200 crore the Uttar Pradesh government reportedly has spent Rs 2000 crore and the central government has allocated Rs 2200 crore. Apart from this budgetary allocation, some other departments have also allocated funds for the mega event. To the critics on expenses incurred on Kumbh preparations, many justify it by arguing that: we are the rightful citizens and the state should put money into our events. The Kumbh Mela area has been doubled to 3,200 hectare as compared to 1,600 hectare area in the previous Melas. Attracting a massive number of foreign tourists from various countries like Australia, UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, this Kumbh has turned to be a festival of the world. The Yogi Adityanath government has enacted the Prayagraj Mela Authority Bill and made the present six-yearly Ardh Kumbh, into a full-fledged Kumbh. Politics was never far away at at the Kumbh. Hindu priests and religious leaders sang praises for the "best ever" Kumbh. At the same time Hindu activists have utilized this event to build support for the Ram Mandir and at the same time some Hindu religious and political figures are expecting a return on their efforts, not only from the gods, but from voters when BJP battles for a second term in an election. At the Kumbh, Modi and Adityanath smile down from hoarding after hoarding, trumpeting the work of their government in Uttar Pradesh. Party workers were found over enthusiastic and were over busy in distributing publicity material and BJP booklet to many devotees.
Concluding the exercise on search engines, I came across Romila Thapar, 87, one of India's best known historians, saying a "showy" Kumbh like this year's might help invoke Hindu pride and a New Delhi-based historian, said the Kumbh this year was the BJP's "Hindu India" plan to prop up the country's majority religion for political benefit. Come what may I have only to say that Kumbh is a matter of faith for Hindus and everyone should take this occasion for remission of his sins. The Allahabad Kumbh Mela has deep philosophical and spiritual significance for Hindus. It is commonly believed that those who take a holy dip in the sacred water of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati at Prayagraj, get rid of all sins and attain liberation. Let us be benefitted of the occasion. |
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