EP 2 Maha Kumbh Prayagraj - Uttar Pradesh
Har Har Mahadev! Jai, Jai! Har Har Gange!! Namaskar Friends! Welcome to Visa2explore! This is your host, Harish Bali. Today is our second day in Prayagraj. We are beginning our day at Arail Ghat in Sector 23. The first impression I had of this place, when I reached here a while ago,... ...made me feel like... ...the cleanliness of this place is at an extraordinary level! Just imagine, crores of pilgrims are visiting this place on daily basis. Despite that, we get to see this level of cleanliness!! So, this is what I liked about the arrangements.
Once we parked our car and entered the Kumbh area, I noticed separate toilets for male and female. It is something that I had noticed yesterday as well. We have now entered deeper into the area. From here, let us take a closer look at the Yamuna river. Also from here, I'll show you the way to the Triveni Sangam, and...
...I'll also guide you about the direction in which you need to go to reach the Sangam. There is another good thing about this place. The authorities have built changing rooms along the Ghats. Wherever you see, there are changing rooms at regular distances, so that the pilgrims... ...don't face any kind of inconvenience after taking a holy dip in the Ganges. If you look in the direction in which I'm pointing my finger, you'll see the Triveni Sangam! Now, I am pinpointing my finger in the exact opposite direction to me. Yesterday, we rented a boat from there and... ....and spent about 30 minutes at the Triveni Sangam, during which I also took a holy dip. Thereafter, we exited this area from the Qila GHat Side, Let me also share another interesting fact about this place, which I observed yesterday as well.
The discarded part of paddy and wheat plants is known as "Puaal." That puaal has been laid out here on the river bank. When you come out here, after your bath, your wet feet will be dried immediately. Also, if you want to sit in the sun for some time and relax,... ...you can do that here, like these pilgrims. I've just inquired from these people and they have told me... ...the cost of travelling on a boat up to Triveni Sangam is Rs 300 per person on shared basis. They will take you to Sangam, to take a holy dip, and then they'll bring you back here.
This trip will take you four hours to complete because... ......on the sharing basis, each person has different things to do, so it takes a longer time. But if you reserve a boat for yourself,... ...even that will take you 2 to 2.5 hours to complete the trip, it is my yesterday's personal experience. My trip took time because I spent 30-40 minutes at Sangam, that is how much I liked the place.
They charge Rs 2500 for a private trip. Rs 2! Bottle, Sir? I don't have a bottle on me. You'll drink water without a bottle!!! Yes, I can do that. No problem at all. I don't have a bottle. You can fill your bottle here.
I can fill the whole bottle here? Yes, absolutely! Whole one litre? Yes, one litre! Alright! This is a lot of water! This is great! You should have a bottle with you Sir. Yeah sure! Do you know why that is important? Water isn't wasted. The water isn't wasted, it doesn't flow down, and it is convenient to drink water. Right! Almost a litre of water is filled in one go. One litre for one rupee.
How is the water Sir? It is good, of course! But you had to drink it in a hurry. Yes, that's right! If I had a bottle with me, I could refill water. Let's go now. How many such ATMs are instaled There are 25 ATMs. Okay! 25 on this side.
That is interesting! A huge tent city has been erected on the side of Arail Ghat. Some of the groups who've organised these tents have put up 200-500 tents in this space. I wanted to explore a couple of stay accommodations on this side too. This morning, I met two of my subscribers, who were putting up in Rishikul. They invited me to visit Rishikul because they liked the accommodation, so here we are. To come here, we had to travel for about 5-6 KM from the Arail Ghat, where we were earlier.
From here, you can travel to the Ghat on a battery rickshaw. Otherwise, you won't get any local transport outside the camp. These battery rickshaws are the main mode of transport.
You can use these to reach the Ghat from where boats take you across the river. After the day-long sightseeing, you return the same way to your accommodation. So, Bhaiya, are you showing me the premium accommodation? It is premium Sir. This one is for Rs 18,000? Hmm! The set up is good. Does this tariff include meals like breakfast and lunch? All breakfast and food is included.
It is fine as per convenience. For now, you're telling me that no accommodation is available in tariff range of Rs 10,000. So, how is it different? In terms of size? Size is different and the bathrooms too.
Everywhere you look in the tent city, you'll see only tents. It is an experience in itself because I haven't seen so many tents in one place ever. Now, I am going to see the Dome City. It is a hot topic of discussion on social media these days. I have travelled about half a KM to visit this city nearby. Do you see these dome-shaped accommodations? About its tariff, I was told it is Rs 61,000 per day, during non-special occasions during Kumbh.
Rs 91,000 plus taxes is the tariff on the days of 'Snaan" (special bathing dates). The tariff is pricey, no doubt, but the accommodation is definitely premium. One more thing that I've noticed here. There is a lot of movement of helicopters in the sky. If you want to enjoy this 7-8 minute long helicopter ride here...
....I will add a link for that in the video description. You can check the availability. You can do this helicopter ride at a very nominal rate. You can enjoy the view of all of Prayagraj in 7-10 minutes. We've come to the Arail Ghat for lunch.
Do you see the Parmarth Triveni Pushp? This set-up is owned by the Parmarth Ashram located in Rishikesh. Right next to it is the Satvik Food Veda. I am standing outside it and this is where we are going to have lunch. For myself, I've ordered the Deluxe Thali. Its cost is Rs 300 plus taxes. With pulao, you get Shahi Paneer, Dal Makhni, mixed vegetable, and raita.
Usually, the mixed veg contains lots of vegetables in it. Its taste is good, though it is slightly spicier. Though the restaurant is named 'Satvik' but you'll still get dishes with onion and garlic here.
If you want purely Satvik items (with no onion, no garlic), those are also available here. If I had to order a la carte, I would order Dal Makhni with Tandoori Roti. Taste is good! I liked the overall food of this place. After finishing food, we'll go to the area that has all the Akharas!! We plan to spend about 3-4 hours there. The time now is 3.15 PM. It will take us 30-45 minutes to reach that part of the city.
You must have noticed that I get quite engaged while discussing food! This is the reason why I've started Spice2Nuts website. We source spices and nuts from their respective places of origin. Though we don't have nuts at present, those will be available in the near future. I hope that all our customers, who've ordered these products, must be enjoying them.
After lunch, we've been travelling in Arail Ghat area so far. We are at a beautiful selfie point, which I'm going to show to you too. This is the Qila (Fort) that I've showed you many times earlier. This is the Yamuna river.
That is the Ganga river flowing in from the opposite direction. Do you see all the boats in the centre, with flags on top? That is the spot of Triveni Sangam. The Saraswati river is joining the other two rivers underground. After the Sangam point, the rivers unite to form the Ganga river and continue the journey further. It reaches Benaras via Mirzapur. All I can suggest is that if you've come to Arail, you must spend 15-20 minutes at this point.
Watching water bodies from a height is a wonderful experience. Within that, if you get to see the river confluence, then it is an even better experience. Earlier, I had thought of having lunch here, at Tanish Food. It is located next to the selfie point. But then we went for lunch to another place. Though, I am also feeling like having a cup of tea at that stall in front of me, but if I do that...
...the next half an hour would pass in a jiffy. Moreover, I have to visit the Akhadas today, since I couldn't visit those yesterday as well. I don't want to be late for that. For reference, let me tell you if someone generally asks that... ...how are Akhadas associated with Kumbh Mela, I think it won't be wrong to say that... ..the Akhadas are the soul of Kumbh event. You can tell me your opinion about this thought in the comment section. Come, let us leave here now. Every time, for Kumbh, 15-18 pontoon bridges are built.
However, this time, a total of 30 such bridges have been set up. These bridges are a huge convenience to the pilgrims, for example someone... ...wants to cross from one side of the river to another... ...these 30 bridges ensure that they don't need to take a long detour. These pontoon bridges are available to pilgrims within 1-2 KM of their destinations on either side.
Making it easier to walk across the river. We are now going from Arail to Jhusi. This is the route we are taking to reach the Akhada area. It is nice. Very good! The building process of this whole pontoon bridge...
...is temporary in nature. After the Kumbh is over, these bridges will be removed from here. Right now, we are in Sector 20. There are a lot of Akhadas in this area. Let's see how many Akhadas we can visit in the time we are left with. I had pledged to wear 1.25 lakh Rudraksh Malas (necklaces).
I took this pledge at the "Ardh-Kumbh" that took place 6 years ago. My pledge was... ...to wear 1.25 lakh Rudraksh within 12 years' time. Today, I've completed 6 years of that pledge. Maharaj Ji, are you wearing 1.25 Rudraksh or more? More than 1.25 lakh. It is more! We have insisted on Lord Shankar, we have a resolution, it comes in Hatha Yoga.
It is my resolution is to take this pledge. I became a saint, left home, and now this is what we have to do. I became a Sadhu for Sanatan, I will live and die for Sanatan. Jai Ganga! Maharaj Ji, I have two questions in mind.
Can I ask? Yes, sure, if I know the answer, I will tell you. I want to ask you about this Bhasam (sacred ash) that you apply all over yourself. Yes, yes! Is there a special reason behind this? Yes, there is a special reason.
This Bhasam belongs to Bholenath. We believe it is smeared on us by Bholenath himself. Like it is in the Mahakal Temple of Ujjain? You must have had darshan of Mahakal there, you must've seen him being smeared in ash as well. Yes! This ash is also offered at Kashi Vishwanath Temple. We Nagas also apply this sacred ash because we are "Shiv-Gana" (followers of Lord Shiva).
Naga Baba is considered a form of Shankar himself. And it is very rare to know this. I have another question in my mind. It is winter season right now. Yes, of course! Though I am wearing a sweater, but still, it feels cold during the morning time.
You aren't wearing proper clothes so don't you feel cold? We feel cold but not as much as we should. Unlike the common man. No, because right now I am sitting near a fire. But when we go for the "Shahi Snaan", there we feel the cold air too. How strong does the East wind blow? The wind touches our body but... ...a Sadhu doesn't feel cold because he lives in the joy of worshipping God. I am blessed Sir! This is my first time in Kumbh and I felt happy meeting you and talking to you.
I don't know how to express with words! There is no word that can express the powerful energy in here. I don't have religion but I follow the nature... ...Ganga mother, Mother Ganga, and.... it's beautiful! All these people, all this gathering, all this atmosphere, is really... ...is like a miracle happened to me and... Every day, when I came here, it was like one day, two day, I will explore and go.
But now, something just keeps me here, to be more and experience this energy more! I came to know that at a distance of a KM from here,... ...a satsang of Shankaracharya ji of Jagannath Puri is going on. So, I travelled the distance and now I am here. It is for the first time that I am listening live to Jagad Guru Shri Nischalanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj. It is feeling nice to see the pilgrims putting across their doubts to him.
Gurudev is answering the questions one by one. I plan to spend about an hour here. After that, I'll leave here.
Guruji Pranam, I have taken a pledge to go walking across all the holy places. I have walked about 800 KM so far. I want to know from you what are the do's and don't's of this journey.
I've come to visit the Digital Mahakumbh Experience Centre. To enter, you have to purchase an entry ticket of Rs 50 per person. This experience is quite new and exciting. A lot of people told me I should not miss it.
As soon as we enter the Experience Centre, we see this scene from the "Samudra Manthan." (Narration) A film shown here tells us how, at one time, Rishi Durvasa cursed the Devtas (deities). After that, Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Sea) was carried out.
The Manthan revealed a pot of Amrit (nectar). From that pot, a few drops of Amrit fell at Prayagraj, Nashik, Haridwar, and Ujjain. This is the reason why Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 12 years in these four cities. This 10-12 minute documentary explains to the pilgrims the reason why Kumbh is celebrated. Here, they've beautifully shown the flow of Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
Also, they've shown the places through which the two rivers continue their journey till the sea. We see names like Gangotri, Devprayag, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kanpur and... ...Prayagraj, where we are right now. Then, there is Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata.
On this side, there are cities through which the Yamuna flows, like New Delhi, Mathura, ... ..Agra, Gwalior, Prayagraj. I told you earlier today that when Yamuna meets Ganga at Prayagraj, it becomes Ganga. The good thing about this presentation is that you feel like you are watching water flowing below. Beautiful! How wonderful!! This is quite amazing! By the way, I've never had this kind of experience before. That you are standing and in front of you is a screen, which looks like...
...you are standing in front of a huge waterfall. What an experience! As we walked further, we can see details about Kalpavas written in both Hindi and English. There are details about when this tradition began, how it began and who started it. On this side, you'll read about the 'bathing ritual' done in Triveni Sangam. One aim of the pilgrims coming to Prayagraj is to meditate. Many pilgrims coming to Prayagraj also come here with the mission to donate to noble causes.
Here, we can read all the information about it. Oh God! I didn't pay attention to this side. This scene is one-of-its-kind! This scene of the Benaras riverfront needs no introduction. When you are on a boat on the Benaras riverfront,...
...this is the scene you see then. So beautiful! Looking at these photographs displayed in the Kumbh gallery feels like... ...you are looking at real-life scenes instead of photographs! Here, you'll read about the 'Divine Confluence', written beautifully in Hindi & English. It says the planetary positions of Jupiter, Moon, Sun and Saturn,... ...reach a peculiar position every 12 years,... ...because of which, at all the places where the Kumbh is celebrated,... ...the body is able to receive the planetary energies by taking the holy dip in the water. It is written clearly here! Water, as the best conductor of heat, transmits the concentrated planetary energies directly into the body.
The humid environment of Prayagraj amplifies the effect, or enhances it. There is a solar system made over a glow signboard for easy understanding. It tells us the planetary positions during the Kumbh Mela in Nashik, Ujjain, and Haridwar. If we talk of Prayagraj...
...it is celebrated when the Jupiter enters Taurus. And the Sun enters the Capricorn. (Narration) (Narration) This display shows the written information about the 13 Akhadas in Kumbh, and... ...also about their respective flags! This information is about the Vairagi Akhada. Kumbh has a total of 13 Akhadas. If you want to visit all the Akhadas... ...you should have at least 5-6 days at hand because... ...in a single day, you'll be able to properly visit only two akhadas. If you'd stretch the day a little bit, then three.
Today's our Digital Mahakumbh Experience was amazing!! When I reached here, I thought I would be able to complete the visit in 30-45 minutes. But I ended up spending 2 to 2.25 hours here. I felt that I could spend another hour or so here if I didn't have limited time available. So, when you come to the Digital Centre, keep 2.5 to 3 hours at hand because, at this place,... ...you'll be able to understand Mahakumbh better using modern, digital tools. The audio-visual presentations are amazing. Along with that is the written, text-based information too.
To sum up, I am highly, highly satisfied and happy to have visited here. The time is 8.45 PM now. On one hand, I am feeling like having dinner and ending the day. However, since it is our second and last day here...
...I feel like postponing the dinner a bit and heading back to the Akhada. We will spend 1 to 1.25 hours there. Then, we'll go for dinner because the eateries in Prayagraj... ...close by 10.30 to 10.45 PM. So, we have about an hour with us. Earlier, I had visited 2-3 Akhadas nearby, so it would be better... ...to head to the Sector 16 to visit the Kinnar Akhada. It will take us half an hour to reach Sector 16. (Singing devotional songs) It was the 'Kinnar' (eunuch) form of Mohini who tempted everyone, made them run back and forth.
It was she who walked away with the 'Amrit-Kalash' and... ...ended up spreading Amrit droplets at different places so that today... ...our country, Bharat, has been purified. Every 6 and 12 years, a huge wave of Sanatanis visits these places. In Prayagraj, pilgrims visit every year for the Magh Mela and 'Kalpavas.' Because of this Amrit-Manthan, our country is empowered and its character is Sanatani.
Thank you! Har Har Mahadev! Har Har Mahadev! (Singing devotional songs) Where are you originally from? Adbhut Swami Shri Krishna is my name and I have come from Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain. Alright! You are wearing such a colourful outfit and riding a motorcycle. This bike is 500cc. 500cc? Yes! Did you ride on it from Ujjain? No, I got it here on a train.
Alright! Yes! Couldn't ride it all the way. Alright! Yes! Tell us some more about yourself. Wherever you visit, a crowd gathers around you, who want to meet you, click a photograph with you! (Starts singing devotional song) See, it is like this. Yes! When someone attains knowledge or is blessed by God... So his soul starts saluting all the people.
Very good! When that person starts loving all mankind, then he becomes connected to the God. In return, other people also start loving that person. Very good! It was nice meeting you! Thank you! The time is 10.15 PM. We are leaving here now. Our short, two-episode series will also end here.
This whole experience of two days can be summarized like this. If you are coming to Prayagraj... ...you try to go with the flow. Spend most of your time in experiencing this place. For how many days should you come? I think you need at least three days to visit this place.
I personally feel two days is too less a time for this trip. If you spend a decent amount of time, like six days, here, you'll gain a lot of knowledge. Many of these experiences could be lifetime experiences for you. The vibe of this place is totally different. Moreover, you get a chance like this only once in 12 years.
I haven't thought about where to go next yet. After Prayagraj, you'll see my Tamil Nadu series, about which I've already discussed with you. Okay then, bye for now! Thanks for your time!
2025-02-05 16:31
