From January 13 to February 26, the Kumbh Mela is expected to see 400 million devotees parade in Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh). A colorful and extraordinary event like its organization to bear witness to the vitality of the Hindu faith.
The spectacle is astonishing. Naked men, their bodies covered in ashes, go early in the morning to the ritual baths of the Sangam, the sacred place, at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswati. These several tens of thousands of Naga Sadhus (holy men) are among the stars of the Kumbh Mela. Sometimes still carrying tridents, spears, swords… they are members of religious orders which were once armies of mercenaries. Ascetics who have kept the spirit of this past, as expressed by one of them, Sri Digambar Ishwargiri: “We, the Nagas, are the soldiers of the (Hindu) religion. We safeguard our faith”.
The presence and processions with drums and horns of these worshipers of Shiva galvanize millions of other pilgrims like Venkatesh Ramaling: “It’s a vibrant atmosphere where there are a lot of great saints. And looking at them, it’s a kind of environment of enthusiasm. There’s a lot of enthusiasm around them.”
Some specialists even claim that the Naga Sadhus are one of the sources of inspiration for the Rastafari (Rasta) movement in Jamaica, via Indian immigration to the island.
Baths, prayers, meditation, yoga, and other religious rituals organized by ascetics punctuate the festival. Some pilgrims stay for the planned 6 weeks.
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©RAJESH KUMAR SINGH / AP
Originally, according to believers, the God Vishnu snatched from the demons a golden jug containing the nectar of immortality. Drops would have fallen on the four cities where the Kumbh Mela has been held for centuries. The ritual bath is believed to purify sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth. Vaishnavi Ramaling feels it: “After taking a bath, I feel really good and full of positivity.” Venkatesh Ramaling renchérit: “Taking a bath in the Ganges is really, really calming, I feel. It’s light…”
The event takes place every 12 years. It should constitute a historic record. More than 400 million people are expected to have participated between January 13 and February 26. This is, for example, more than 200 times the participation in the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina last year.
-Although pilgrims generally give alms and live in austerity during the Kumbh Mela, they are not abandoned. Volunteers assist those who have difficulty fending for themselves. Centers for lost objects and even for lost people are also there to help them.
Maiku Lal, a 65-year-old pilgrim, welcomes this following a disappearance: “My nephew reacted and told me that his aunt was nowhere to be found. When we couldn’t find her, we all started looking for her. That’s when we heard an announcement over the loudspeaker and, after Asked around, we reached this center and found her.”
In all, 50 000 security agents are mobilized. 68 000 street lights, 3 000 cuisines, 150 000 toilets and a tent city were installed. Ghanshyam Misra, a 56-year-old pilgrim, is satisfied: “There are no difficulties regarding food, housing or drinking water.”
Nearly 750 million euros will have been spent organizing this historic festival. But it seems that there was not much hesitation about the costs, because according to Narendra Modi, the Kumbh Mela embodies “the eternal spiritual heritage of India”. The nationalist Indian Prime Minister therefore wants, on this occasion, to promote and strengthen Hindu culture.
Find this report in images, with the commentary of Bruno Sat:
