Aju Mukhopadhyay,
IN
Kumbh
Mela
At Allahabad in northern
India one finds two rivers, Ganga and Yamuna, mixing. Legend
has it that Saraswati, now flowing underground as recently
testified, also mixes with the other two here, meaning that
the three most revered, historic, mythological rivers of
India commingle here. It is called Triveni Sangam. On tithi
or auspicious astronomical dates people come to dip in this
Triveni Sangam. It is also called Prayag. For such huge
gathering of lacks of people it is natural that fairs are
arranged. The original Kumbh Mela or fair is held once in
twelve years.
I find a sea of humanity
here, gathered as if with the aspiration of doing something
very auspicious to fulfil their lives, now and after. Though
it seems that the people have left their home and hearth to
come to this distant land under some unforeseen urgency,
actually it is the unity and aspiration of equal minds which
have brought them here; a happy commingling of hearts at the
confluence of rivers.
as if a mass exodus
but their faces are serene—
sea of humanity
gathered at Allahabad Ganga
bathing for nectar; Kumbha Mela.
