Thanks for sharing your thoughts Trishanku

If not for the public health, sanitation & security was involved state had no obligation or duty to have been part of what media glorifies as the ‘Greatest show on earth or whatever’. In spite of being a religious event it is states fundamental duty to take care of Public health, sanitation & security unlike other such events where a political party organised a rally it is imperative the state has to take care of security. It goes without saying as much superstitious as it is the author clearly underestimates the power of cultural undercurrents in an event like this with shared beliefs had contributed to a national Identity of India well before Independemce. Much of what India today is was an Idea much larger in geographical context & culturally too before the partition which clearly was a British strategy.

All religion & spirituality is totally incompatible with reason & science. The fact that India as a country seriously lacks any sort scientific or even academic pursuits in studying or understanding local life itself is the biggest fallacy in making sweeping statements glorifying upanishadic values or undermining the cultural traces of what once were social, political and cultural phenomenon having heavy bearing on the indigenous civilization itself which have in the course of time gotten assimilated into religion and have become religion based superstition. Mere statements won’t make any difference when universities such as Hardvard can take interest in kumbh and studies it’s nature despite the fact that it’s superstitious or otherwise is highly deplorable that out very own minds are bugged by nothing more than small & narrow minded attitudes.

Clearly state spending so much money of a religious event is questionable and rightly pointed out. It is equally condemnable that it appears as a mere superstitious spectacle to our own country who is all praise for Vedantic wisdom who clearly shows no wiser commitment to actually think critically.

Thanks for sharing your views Seema.

Shubhajit.. if you believe in superstitions and that we are controlled by some Artificial intelligence good luck to you. I however think our destiny is in no one else’s hands but ours. You speak of Hinduism but fear criticism. Which is ironic as Hinduism has only been enriched by debate and criticism. Some of the most stringent criticism of Hinduism is the Hindu scriptures themselves. I recommend you read them to know.

Just like the spiritual gurus, the media also “beats a kind of dumbness” among the people. It is in the interest of the media to perpetuate beliefs regardless of rationale behind the beliefs. The media is a business and dumbed down & fanatic followers make good TRPs. Same is true for politicians. Dumbed down folks make easy electorate. And, I think this is true in the US as well. Bill Maher and may be a few others like Jon Stewart, who challenge the discourse are exceptions to the mainstream media.

But what is alarming is that challengers of the system are harassed to an extent that one could be arrested for speaking out against the government or posting messages on facebook. The ease with which these arrests take place discourage a lot of public debate. Also, the academic debates stay hidden in obscure journals and do not find place, unfortunately, in the curriculum of the education system. A tacit policy of nip it in the bud, don’t teach the people how to question.

Manisha thanks for your observations. I’d say if you believe mantras are mystic vibrations then its your choice and good luck to you. But the article was not to dissuade anyone from taking a dip. Just a commentary on blind beliefs and how our insecurities drive us towards them. They can be the Hindu superstitions or the Christian they are all the basically the same in my opinion. thank u

while it is ban under narcotics act,

There are mischief makers everywhere, and I agree with at many aspects. however, religion in whatever form it may be, is the life blood of India. If you see the history of nations all across the world, every powerful religion overpowered other country and established its own religion. despite of being the strongest force in the world, India never attacked any other nation (Ashok was an exceptional) and always be attacked by other forces. Mohammedan came, Christian came and many other organized religion tried to overpower the nation, but Hindu still rules 80% of the country.

The religion is the sole bread of more than half of the country. so many people are employed just because of this religion. why see the half empty glass? see the half full glass..we can’t change anything criticising anything, and when we reach a certain stage, we will realize everything is calculated and we are governed by some sort of Artificial Intelligence..if don’t have anything in our hands to control, still we have everything to control.

Some thoughts on your article. You wrote last to Mukta “But i would love if there is also some sort of public discourse on the rituals/ superstitions surrounding it”

What would you like the public discourse on? for people not to bathe and believe that taking a dip washes away their sins? That sadhus aernt re-incarnations? That Mantra’s have no powers? This is all a hog wash? This whole event is a farce?

Rituals / superstition are a part of everyones life and psyche. Black cats cross your path, dont walk under a ladder, dont lend hankerchieves and so on. Rituals, in whichever faith have their relevance. Mantras are mystic vibrations and connect you to your soul.

Santa Claus is the most popular superstition on this planet,yet we have the west who have university degrees bedazzle and seduce us with multi-millio dollar decorations festivities, gifts, and fireworks. It’s a retailer’s delight.

Taking a dip to wash away your sins is akin to someone visiting the church and confessing to a priest in a confession box. Instant redemption. What’s wrong with this? On the contrary, if one feels a lighter conscience – why not? How many of us even have the courage to brave such winters? But people not only do that, they do it with faith and devotion. The Kumbh is an “energy conclave” where you shall be seduced and tempted to learn and question far beyond you ever thought you would.

If the Kumbh Mela is a place for such beliefs so be it. I dont and shall never support psuedos like Asaram, but I think the magic and mystic of the Kumbh can only be felt when you free yourself of any such pre-concieved notions. Time has seen it all and the Kumbh survives and shall continue to do so irrespetive of as many Asarams or Ravi Shankars get born.

Enjoy the magic Sanjay. Show me us some more of your spectacular pictures ! 🙂