I
heard of Kumbh Mela when I was a child. Johny Lever once lost his
brother in Kumbh Mela in a movie. You can't lose someone in a mela, I
wondered how big this mela would be? Today I read in newspaper that
somewhat 30 million people were present on a day in this Mela with
around 100 million total visitors which means every 12th indian visit
this mela which is for hindus.That indeed makes it a world record and
makes India famous. One of the most important religious events,
extensively covered by news channels and Media. Indian celebrities like
Shilpa Shetty and Sunny leone and some angreji mem expressed their
desire to attend the mela. O yea it is one hell of an event to lose a
brother.Mela is organized every 3 years in Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik, Ujjain with every place organizing it once in 12 years. The dates and duration are decided by high level committee of saadhus. No doubt this mela is an identity of our Country. Unity of Hindus singing same songs and for same cause is a proud moment for our country. They are 100 million people with a common belief.
But why do such a large number of people visit this Mela? Ancient history or Mahabharta ( which could be called ancient history of an ancient history) says that once Gods and demons (rakshas log) were fighting for a glass of Nectar. Finally Lord Vishnu won and did a superman stunt taking away the Nectar as a trophy of victory. But Lord had butterfingers and he accidentally dropped 4 drops of Nectar at 4 different places during his flight. These places are popularly known as Allahabad, Ujjain, Haridwar, Nasik. They say we can wash all our sins by taking 1 dip. What kind of deal is it? I mean it is better than 70% off on Hilfigher or UCB ( sorry, I can't afford Versace and Armani even at discounted prices ). My poor jokes apart, it is like freedom to do all the sins as they will wash away with a dip every 3 years.
"arre bhai kasab aur afzal guru ko bol dete ki dubki maar aao, sab paap dhul jaaenge and faasi cancel ho
jaaegi"
So it is all about a dip in water and your ticket to heaven is booked. It is like fictional money with which you can buy an entry ticket for heaven, just as you buy a ticket to see a movie in the cinema. The more money you have, the better your place will be. So 1 dip will give you bronze and hundreds of dips would be business class with free popcorn, sandwich and coke.
There are also those who sell the tickets and advertise the movies – and of course religion wants to have the house full and show only full shows! So these advertisers have been doing their best to get visitors and after many years, visitors are coming nearly on their own. If you have a look at these advertisers – the Gurus, the religious leaders, the Sadhus and babas, the holy people, they all do their best to get you into that cinema hall and follow the show. If you have your eyes open however, you would notice that it is only an illusion, only fiction and only drama. On the Kumbh Mela, one can watch them all very nicely.
Those holy men are the main attraction at the Kumbh Mela and they walk around everywhere ( and that too nude, don't they have any female assistants??), give their lectures(aur yeh lectures koi bunk nhi maarta), perform ceremonies against money and of course make new followers. In a newspaper I saw a picture of a big crowd of these spiritual people, all dressed in saffron-coloured and orange robes and wearing arms like dabangg. And not only swords or weapons of old times, which could be explained that they are written about in the scriptures but also guns! Holding their firearms, they were shooting into the air, celebrating the beginning of the Kumbh Mela.
Many babas including Ramdev once stood for purification and cleanliness of Ganga but they with 100 million people have made Ganga Yamuna and Saraswati a gutter.
With such huge crowd some mishappenings are bound to occur no matter how big police force you have. Controlling 100 million people at a place is an impossible task for any force. Mela became a nightmare when hundreds were crushed to death in 1954 with dozens dying in 2003 and this year.
People might and do portray this event as a meeting with god, surrendering ourselves to God and peace, a sacred bath,biggest human gathering, an ancient fest which is an identity and pride of India but I see crores of visitors in illusion that their sins will wash away with a dip in water which unfortunately is very polluted due to this very reason.
My friend just visited the mela but it is the same friend who once said GO watch OMG, It's an awesome movie,a must watch.
P.S. I am a theist but not superstitious.
