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News and Articles |
| Feb. 25, 2001 |
Saying
Goodbye to the Kumbha Mela - by Tony Fernandes |
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This is the last illustrated
report from the Maha Kumbha Mela 2001. We maintained coverage of this
unique event in spite many difficulties. We made sure we were here
before the beginning and stayed on till after the end. Since I am
leaving Allahabad tomorrow morning there will be no more regular updates
from here. However, we will be posting illustrated reports from other
parts of India. Articles on the Kumbha Mela will be posted to this site
over the next few weeks and months. Read
more...
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| Feb. 23, 2001 |
Maha
Shivratri Photos - by Tony
Fernandes |
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The Kumbh Mela has ended with
Maha Shivratri. Tony took photos not only at the Sangam but also at
Shiva temples in the vicinity of Allahabad. The next Kumbh Mela at
Allahabad will not be until the year 2013.
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| Feb. 22, 2001 |
Kumbh
Mela 2001 ends with Maha Shivratri
- by Tony Fernandes |
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Maha Shivratri was an
extraordinary day here in Allahabad. Only a few pilgrims decided to come
here the previous day to camp overnight. Almost 95 percent arrived on
the day itself and left by evening. Not many came from other states
making this the most local event of the whole 44 day Kumbh Mela. There
were very few traffic restrictions because there was a lot of parking
space now available on the Kumbh grounds. Estimates of attendance ranged
from 1.5 to 2.5 million. I believe between 800,000 to 900,000 had their
Maha Shivratri snan in and around the Sangam today. Read
more...
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| Feb. 19, 2001 |
Government
of Uttar Pradesh Congratulates Itself
- by Tony Fernandes |
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While I have been away
visiting the neighbouring state of Bihar, Allahabad has been slowly
getting back to normal. The streets are no longer congested and the mela
grounds have been transformed into what looks like an empty wasteland. A
few camps are still around in sector seven including that of ISKCON. The
infrastructure which was put in place over the past few months is
continuing to be dismantled. Read
more...
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| Feb. 9, 2001 |
Magh
Purnima Photos - by Tony
Fernandes |
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Maghi Purnima comes at the
end of the auspicious month of Magh. It brings to an end the cycle of
this Kumbh Mela and, with its conclusion, thousands of pilgrims called
Kalpvasis, who have spent weeks here will now be packing up and going
home. This last auspicious bathing day of the Kumbh began at 3.07pm on 7th
February and concluded at 1.09pm on Thursday 8th
February. Read
more...
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| Feb. 3, 2001 |
Photos
taken February 3, 2001. by Tony
Fernandes |
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There is still a lot going on
at the mela but this is a quieter time. People are bathing, vendors are
selling, and spiritual talks are still attracting crowds. People will
start pouring in beginning on the 6th in preparation for Magh Purnima,
the next bathing day on February 8th.
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| Jan 30, 2001 |
Holy and Hooked Up in India
- by Swaroopa Iyengar - Wired
News |
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The 2001 Maha Kumbh mela, not unlike the melas held in previous decades, is swarming with the expected mix of sadhus, hypnotists, spiritual healers and astrologers. The difference is, this year a few of these enlightened souls are somewhat technologically savvy.
Read
more...
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| Jan 29, 2001 |
Basant
Panchami Photos - by Tony
Fernandes |
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Basant Panchami. This is the
last of the shahi snan days. I believe about 4 million to 4.5 million
people had their snan on 29th January. Most of the Akharas
will be packing up to leave within the next few days.
The remaining days on 8th Feb and Shivaratri are too far away
for most media to stay so it appears that Zenzibar will be the only site
covering the mela till the official end on 21st February.
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| Jan. 28, 2001 |
Bhandara--A
Banquet For Sadhus from
The Kumbha Mela Times |
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While many come to the Mela
with nothing more than what they can carry on their heads, many
organizations with resources come with the intention of serving all.
They may serve meals to anyone who comes to their compound, and
bhandaras, banquets given by sadhus for other sadhus on special
occasions are common during the Mela. Read
more...
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| Jan 26, 2001 |
Mauni
Amavasya Photos - by Tony
Fernandes |
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I believe there were in the
region of 20 million people, plus or minus a couple of million, on Mauni
Amavasya. This is based on my experience of seeing the numbers and the
flow on this day and comparing it with the other bathing days on 9th and
14th January. Mauni Amavasya confirmed what I had seen on the big day 12
years ago at the 1989 Kumbh here in Allahabad. The flow of pilgrims
continued at an almost uniform rate from 23rd January and went on until
around 3pm on 24th January. The numbers flowing in and out were
considerable - in the hundreds of thousands every hour. It was truly
awesome. There was a kind of dreamlike quality to it all. I believe
there were no more than 10 to 12 million people at any given time here
on the Kumbh grounds. The remaining 10 million or so pilgrims floated in
and out like a quiet swarm in the space of a day. More on this in a
report later.
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More
News and Articles from the Kumbha Mela |
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We want our coverage of the event to be
interactive. If there is something that you want to know about or see pictures
of, just e-mail Tony at the
Kumbha Mela and he will try to cover that aspect. We will post it here at
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