Kumbha Mela 2025 – Part 3, Joy

By Teresa Guerra

Jan 27th - We had meditation at 5:30a.m. followed by a very short Puja, and then breakfast at 8:00a.m. We left camp at 9:00a.m. The streets were crowded with people walking, motorcycles, bikes, cars, ambulances and what not. It was amazing to see so many people! So many sadhus were walking! What a joy!!!  We also saw the Naga sadhus in their tents on the sidewalks.  You could feel something deeper in the midst of the constant beeping of the cars and people shouting. After walking 3 kilometers we finally reached the Triveni Sangam (confluence of three rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati) and took a snan (bath)!

We got back to the camp by 11:45a.m. and had lunch. Later in the afternoon we had tea. I ran into a devotee from the DC Center. In the evening, we had Aarati. It was amazing… so uplifting…very special. 

After meditation I stepped outside. I cannot properly describe the feeling…subtle, sublime, profound and peaceful in the middle of so much noise. I couldn’t hold my tears…

More than a thousand people were staying in the Ramakrishna Mission camp. There were 30 sadhus and more kept coming. We were 51 women in my tent. The Ashrama provided 3 blankets and one smaller one. I brought a compact sleeping bag in my luggage. There were 5 poles in the room and each one had a cell phone charger. All arrangements were made thoughtfully. 

There were many religious groups along the road where we were located and many of them had ongoing chanting/singing. We had religious music 24 hours a day. It was the mart of bliss!

 

 

Preparing for Mahasnan

Jan 28th - Before 4:00a.m. I could hear groups of people walking towards the Sangam, chanting the name of Lord! I went to meditation by 5:00a.m.  Silence in the Shrine, people walking in the streets, cars, trucks, motorcycles, trains… everything was playing a part in this blessed event.

After breakfast, Srilatha introduced me to Pravrajika Mokshapranaji (nun) and we talked for a while. What a blessing!!! There were probably more than 10 nuns in the camp. I met some of them.

In the afternoon I spent some time with the nuns again. I saw Srilatha briefly. She was busy at the dispensary.

We had Aarati; when I was leaving the shrine, to my surprise there were more than 20 sadhus at the registration desk. The whole day had been a procession in the streets; more and more people coming.

The air pollution was also rising. In the evening the air looked “greyish”, more than usual, with lot of smoke. I could feel my eyes itching. I started coughing; and started wearing a mask.

The next day was Mauni Amavasya (new moon), second of the three very auspicious days for Mahasnan (the great bath) at the Triveni Sangam for Kumbha Mela 2025.  Millions and millions of people were expected.

Later in the evening, we had a meeting where instructions were given to the camp people who were planning to go for the Mahasnan, at the holy rivers the next day. Maharaj spoke in Hindi. Srilatha, who was sitting next to me translated the main points as he was speaking. We were told that we were to start walking towards the Sangam at 3:30a.m. in a procession behind the sadhus and the Naga sadhus. They had flag holders to lead the procession, so we could see the flags and follow. Maharaj warned that if someone felt sick or fainted, it was impossible to help them, because both the sick person and the helper would get stepped over and trampled upon in that magnanimous crowd! He said not to bring any valuables.

The temperature during night and early morning had been 47- 49 degrees Fahrenheit.