At the Kumbha Mela
The Master’s Visit to the Hardwar fair
Every twelve years the famous Kumbha Mela, the gigantic religious fair, is held in India. Attended by millions of people, including hundreds of thousands of sadhus – and many Himalayan yogis who make their only contact with the world –, the Kumbh is the preminent Indian festival and perhaps the largest fair in the world.
This year the Kumbh was held in Hardwar, one of four possible sites; and for the second time – the first was the halb-Kumbh, a smaller version, six years ago in 1968 –, the Master set up camp at the Kumbh and held Satsang for the benefit of the millions of pilgrims who throng there, some of whom are seeking a genuine Master. While there He met with such luminaries as the 200-year old yogi Devaria Baba and the well-known woman saint Ananda Moyi Ma, and formed the Rashtriya Ekta Sammelan or National Unity Conference, held during the fair on 12th April. Approximately a dozen disciples, including a few from the West, were privileged to accompany the Master to this great festival.