Hello dearest Readers,
Hope you’re well and enjoying the miracle called life. More often than not in the course of daily drudgery we forget that life is but a miracle and if we keep our senses and heart open, astonishing things do happen. Today’s story is all about how life threw at me a beautiful gift, wrapped in simplicity and joy, just out of the blue.
I’m spiritual if I might say so with humility but I’m not a very religious minded person. As in, I rarely feel the need to to go to temples or religious gatherings to do my practice. I feel it’s very personal. If at all there is any sense of urgency - it’s my need to run away from the social humdrum. I prefer natural surroundings where only sound of silence pervades. I generally have an aversion towards too many people or a crowded place. My peace and my prayers search seclusion and thrive when I’m alone.
But then like I said, life catches you unaware and throws you into situations which are at times impossible even to dream of. As you might know, I started this year fulfilling my long time desire to try paragliding. I was on my way to the flight destination when scrolling through my Facebook page, I saw a post from my aunt-in-law. She mentioned about her visit to Maha Kumbh and shared lovely pictures of the gathering and the holy dip. Now a girl born and brought up in Allahabad (now called Prayagraj), it was no surprise that she’d be able to navigate the frenzy of Maha Kumbh. Her family is based out of the city and it was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves. As it happens when you connect with family on social media , I put a comment on her post stating how I wish I was there. Mind you, I was then on my way to Kamshet super excited about my paragliding expedition. Lo and behold, pat came a response, from my Kaki (aunt in law) asking me to plan a visit to Maha Kumbh end of February when all of them would be in Prayagraj again.
I was flummoxed at first, not sure if I ought to take the plunge and take her up on that invitation. To the uninitiated, Maha Kumbh is the largest religious gatherings in the world and it is considered sacred for the Hindus. The Maha Kumbh happens every 144 year at the confluence of the river Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati. Now something which happens every 144 years can only happen to someone in a lifetime or may be not. So I decided in my mind that if life takes me to Maha Kumbh, I will not resist it. I would go with the flow and trust the Universe to guide me through.
I’m not elaborating much about Maha Kumbh because I think the whole world was made aware of the phenomenon through social media and news channels. The hype around it resulted in such a frenzy that almost everyone rushed to experience it causing all kinds of accidents and anxiety to public. My family was acutely nervous at my steadfast intentions. I was going solo, though Kaki’s family very graciously agreed to host me for the two days and promised to take me around like a true blue local. But let me not deviate from the topic of miracles. Such decisions come at a cost I had heard. You are tested to see if you’re actually meant to be at the place your heart is calling out for.
Few weeks before the trip suddenly, I developed severe issues of haemorrhoid. So much of pain that I could neither sit down nor lie. The only comfortable position was to stand upright as much as possible. Every one in my family was convinced that I should cancel my plans. There was a high chance that a surgery would be required to fix me. Flight tickets were already booked and I literally had to fight to not get it cancelled. My doctor always an angel from above saved me by saying that meds would suffice. I was much better within a week. I will be honest, the experience shook me a bit. Not because of the pain, but the thought that I might need to walk miles, jostle amidst crowd of millions with a health condition not too palatable. But I kept telling myself, if I don’t recover completely, I will be open to dropping my plans. But determined not to give up before the d-day. Too make things worse, 4 days before my scheduled travel, I had a severe bout of allergic reactions. I was at work and one of my colleagues noticed there were bursts of rashes in both my hands. I almost freaked out and was convinced that my trip is not meant to happen. As I frantically consulted my dermatologist, he calmly asked me to observe. There was no sensation whatsoever and that was the only solace. Strangely as the symptoms arose from nowhere, it disappeared into nothingness in 48 hours. And I was finally able to board my flight to Pryagraj on 22nd of February.
Maha Kumbh for me was beautiful. I took the dip and if you look at the picture above, you’d probably be able to gauge the happiness I felt. But I experienced Maha Kumbh more acutely amidst the family which hosted me. I have never met them before. But the warmth and the kindness that was showered on me was unfathomable. Relationships were built impromptu. Suddenly strangers became masi and mami ( aunts) mama & mesho (uncles). All the kids became dewars (brother in laws) and bonhomie embraced us. There was no pretence, there was nothing extra to mar the natural candour of simplicity. There was laughter, dance, late night drives, awesome food, love and overall a gentle acceptance of divine in every human heart. I feel life brought me to Maha Kumbh to take a dip in simple joys. It reminded me everything that is good in the world is also created by the human heart. Like I said, I don’t know what merit I earned by bathing at the Sangam (confluence of the holy rives) but I know my purpose of being in Maha Kumbh in this lifetime was attained.
The boat ride on the river Yamuna which girdled the Allahabad Fort took us to Sangam. The river was flocked with beautiful migratory birds and equal number of boats.. It was a surreal sight to watch the birds float on the river. After the holy dip as the boat started rowing back to the ghats, a beautiful flock of those white birds flew over the boat. Almost sanctifying our holy dip and blessing the wish fulfilment of being a part of Maha Kumbh. Like I said, life is a miracle if you know how to experience it. I bonded with family who I haven’t met for a very long time and made new ones.
My earnest request to you my Readers is to keep the windows of your mind open and have some space to embrace the world. You would see miracles unfolding as you walk the path. Till we meet again.
Always yours,
Pocket full of life
