Kumbh Mela, world's largest religious festival, starts

[Vinayaka]

Millions expected to throng Indian city for world's largest religious festival | Reuters

Each new kumbh seems larger than the last.

 

[Aupmanyav]

They expect 250 million people to attend this "Half-Kumbha" (Ardh-Kumbha, it is not even full Kumbha). That is one fifth of Indian population. Hope it passes away peacefully. We are arresting terrorists on daily basis.

 

[Vinayaka]

They expect 250 million people to attend this "Half-Kumbha" (Ardh-Kumbha, it is not even full Kumbha). That is one fifth of Indian population. Hope it passes away peacefully. We are arresting terrorists on daily basis.

I think that's most likely an exaggerated figure. My landlord in Mauritius went 5 years ago. They had to walk the last 15 miles in and out, as I recall. Just managing the massive crowds must be rewarding. Our reporters from Hinduism Today are there doing a story, as they usually do. I've seen a few western reports coming out, focusing on the Naga Sadhus, as usual. It's certainly demonstrative of the press's relationship to sensationalism. Soon there will the stories of Naga smoking Ganja, so the world will think we're all a bunch of dope smokers.

If it was me, I'd find one little old lady, with family, and interview her to tell her story. Just getting there is an ordeal in itself.

 

[Vinayaka]

Here's the governments official website on it ... Divya and Bhavya Kumbh

 

[Aupmanyav]

This time it is especially huge. 20 million on the first day. Yogi Adityanath, the UP CM and Gorakhnath matha chief, has seen to it. It is partly for the coming national elections. UP has the highest number of parliamentarians - 80. That is one sixth of the total.

Pousha Purnima score 7 million.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Celebrities make a bee-line to Prayag Kumbha. The President, the Prime Minister, Rahul and Priyanka of the dynasty, Bacchans including Aishvarya Roy, Hema Malini, Cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Virendra Sehwag, and many more.

 

[Vinayaka]

Celebrities make a bee-line to Prayag Kumbha. The President, the Prime Minister, Rahul and Priyanka of the dynasty, Bacchans including Aishvarya Roy, Hema Malini, Cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Virendra Sehwag, and many more.

You should go, young man. Have you ever gone?

 

[Aupmanyav]

To such a crowd. I cannot think of it. I am a loner.

And why should a 'jeevanmukta' go to Kumbha? I am immortal. I do not need nectar.

"Na me mṛtyuśaṅkā na me jātibhedaḥ, pitā naiva me naiva mātā na janmaḥ;
na bandhur na mitraṃ gurunaiva śişyaḥ, cidānandarūpaḥ śivo'ham śivo'ham."

 

[Aupmanyav]

Some aerial photographs of Prayag Kumbha. It does not seem to be an 'ardha-kumbha'. It is bigger than a full 'kumbha'. Alas, each person will get a smaller portion of the nectar.

Most Incredible Aerial Photos Captured at Kumbh Mela 2019