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Allahabad saints going hi-tech ahead of Ardh Kumbh fair
by Virendra Pathak

     Allahabad: Believe it or not, Allahabad's hermits are now using the Internet and cell phones to contact their followers ahead of the Ardh Kumbh Mela or, the urn fair which commences in January 2007. The Ardh Kumbh is held every six years. This time, the Ardh Kumbha Mela is being organised from January 1 to February 20, 2007. It is expected to be attended by over 60 million Hindus. According to Yogi Satyam, an ascetic running a Yogic centre, using the Internet has given him the opportunity to reach out to his followers in different parts of the world. "As a large number of people will be arriving at once for such an significant religious event, our clients, followers and fellow saints are worried, anxious and happy- all at once. They are excited that they will meet over 37 million people, and that they will meditate, bathe in the holy rivers and make a worthwhile journey of their lives," said Yogi Satyam. "We are intimating all our saints, religious heads and ascetics living in India and abroad to give them (the followers) complete information and sending invites about the forthcoming Ardh Kumbh. We are also updating them about what should be their preparation and how to reach here," said Maheshwar Das of the Udasin Akhada, a Hindu monastery.

   Ashok, a priest who conducts religious rites and rituals, chose to follow the scriptures and tenets when it came to drafting invitations for the Ardh Kumbh. Ashok has copied thetext from a yellowed ancient paper.. "I am writing to all my clients and patrons to reach here at least two days before the full Moon night on which the Kumbh Mela is scheduled to begin. I am sending out hand written invites to welcome them," said Ashok. Civic and security personnel have already begun an elaborate exercise to manage the logistics for the mammoth fair. But the faithful shrug off the risks as they search for a place to bathe, which will purify them of their sins. Legend says that the gods and the demons fought a celestial war, spilling heavenly nectar at the confluence of three-rivers in Prayag. The pilgrims will mainly make a beeline for the "Sangam" or, the confluence point of holy rivers, where they believe the Yamuna and Ganges rivers are joined by a low lying River Saraswati, named after the Goddess of Learning. The precise dates of the Kumbh Mela are astronomically determined, based upon precise calculations of the positions of the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter Hundreds of pilgrims have already begun pouring in to the festival area, braving chilly winds and foggy conditions.
-Nov 15, 2006