Some of you may know that the Kumbh Mela happens in Nashik every twelve years. The Kumbh Mela attracts millions – that’s right, millions – of pilgrims over a two-month period: the last one in Nasik was said to attract 75 million though of course there is no way of counting! Pilgrims come to the river to bathe (in this case the Godavari), so we went down to the ghats to see where it takes place. Our guide told us that this was also the only place apart from Varanasi where people would throw the ashes of loved ones, so we were expecting it to be huge, and packed. But we arrived to a wonderfully peaceful scene. Ashes can only be scattered from one spot – the first picture; the other pictures are self-explanatory, except the young boys dressing themselves – they came from Aurangabad, took a bath, tried to dress themselves and are preparing for a 40 km walk to another pilgrim site for an event on 31 Jan – no I don’t know what it is.
Really wonderful x
It was – we were really pleased to see it and no- one seemed in the least concerned that we were there.
Were you tempted to hve a little paddle?
Not really – didn’t want to intrude. I found it moving, though, particularly the old people and children washing an elderly parent. An intimate and relaxed atmosphere.