Ardh Kumbh mela attracting large crowds

Ardh Kumbh Nagar (UP), Jan 16: For those who want to be away from mundane routine life for some time and yearn for religious gatherings, divine discourses and spirituality, Ardh Kumbh is perhaps the ultimate place to be.

You name the 'celebrity' saint or guru and he is here to give you relief from your hectic and tension-ridden lifestyle.

It is a real treat for religiously inclined and believers of Hindu mythology who can find all the saintly company here in Ardh Kumbh, the month-long largest religious gathering in the world.

Almost all the big names popular among the Hindus for their dissertaion of Hindu mythology and philosophy of the religions have graced this tent city.

The camps of Morari Bapu, Aasa Ram Bapu, Piyushji Maharaj, Swami Awdeshanand, Rameshji Bhai Ojha and others at the banks of the Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, are brimming with activities.

Thousands of Hindu devotees continue to throng these camps to hear all those saintly words during the month-long mela.

The camp of Yoga guru Swami Ramdev, who was here till Monday, attracted a huge crowd during his stay. People from various parts of the country and the locals came in large numbers for early morning Yoga teaching session.

Swami Ramdev also visited the Naini central jail and told the prisoners about the need of Yoga in their lives.

Pilot Baba, who resigned from the Indian Air force to become a spiritual guru, is also a popular figure in the Mela. Known to have mastered the art of 'samadhi, his camps are full of followers including foreigners. One attarction of his camp will be the 'Samadhi' proposed to be taken by his guru-sister Akei Akiwa on January 18.

Sai Baba camp, presently run by Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre C B Satpathy who has turned to spirituality, is also drawing devotees in large numbers.

Besides, various akhara heads and Mahamandaleshwar are receiving their disciples on a regular basis, making the Mela a real spiritual and religious event.

Anil Singh, a local businessman of Allahabad city , spends all his evenings in the Mela area. ''Once in six years, we find such an occasion when we can spend our time in such an enlightened company,'' he says.

Dimpy Middha, a showroom owner, is also elated over the fact that the Sai Baba camp has also been set up the Mela.

He finds the Mela as a unique occasion to have some meaningful sessions on religion.

The foreigners, who have visited the 'Ardh Kumbh' in a big numbers are also seen in these camps. Some of them are just curious visitors while some are keen followers of Hindu ethos and philosophy.

UNI