Kiran pala (my IIIT student of cognitive science) called me
to tell I have to take a dip in any of the auspicious days at Kumbh Prayag. He
got this message in meditation. I will meet someone and have different
experience he said. There are 6-7
auspicious days’ for bathing at Kumbh as follows
- 14th Jan,
- Fullmoon Jan 27th
- New moon Feb, 10th Feb Main bathing day
- Basant Panchami, 15th Feb
- Full moon day 25th Feb
- 10th March Shiva Ratri
I had already booked my tickets to Guwahati alternate week
after ascension of my brother on 5th Feb. It was impossible to get
train tickets or flight to Allahabad especially during these days.
Next week during my visit to Hyderabad on 26th
Jan I was flying by Jet Airlines and saw an airline magazine with cover page on Kumbh Mela. It has suggested to go to
Lukhnow or Varanasi where there is direct flight from Delhi every day to Allahabad.
Using Makemytrip.com it was easy to make ticket from
Guwahati to Lukhnow via Kolkata and back to Hyderabad via Delhi on 10th
of Feb the main bathing day of Mouni Amavasya. Lukhnow to Allahabad car and a
modest guest house was also booked easily . When I asked my
wife to accompany me, she agreed. Her tickets were booked from Hyderabad via
Delhi to Allahabad. It was clear from the ease with which the all reservations were made in just seven days before.
My journey started on 9th Feb evening from our
North Guwahati project at 4pm. A day before Jalukbari Bridge on Brahmaputra was
crowded; it took two hour to reach Dispur. But on Saturday the 9th
roads were clear from morning to evening. During my journey back to Hyderabad, I visit one
temple on the way to Airport. Lankeswar Dham near Guwahati University is most commonly visited. Donated Rs 1000 for making new Shiva Temple on the top. Flight was on-time and arrived Kolkata 20min before time about 8pm. Didi and Brother in law were
waiting to pick me.
On 10th feb got up at 3am and meditated. Driver
came little late but reached airport next morning by 8.30am. It was busy hour;
crowd was seen from entrance with long queue. Luggage screening and checking all
were jam packed. Feeling of Kumbh Mela started coming while crossing the long line at security
check also. All flights were before time arrival and departure. Arrived Lukhnow
20min before, it is a new Airport opened just 6 months ago. Tripti also arrive on
time by 1.45pm . Driver Vidhya Ram from Cleartrip had given several missed call before my arrival, he was
waiting outside to take us to Allahabad.
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| Lucknow Airport |
We started at 2 pm; road was good for stretch of 10 km,
followed by narrow road, where widening work was on by cutting tree and digging. Driving to Allahabad was nightmare, Vidya Ram was overtaking recklessly. Opposite vehicles were also driving mad. Green pea for
15Rs Kg and carrot for 10Rs was our Lunch on the way Sunday market at Kunda. We crossed Raibarely which is
constituency of Gandhi family. UP is not a developed state, poverty is seen on
the road side, however it is blessed with fertile land and low water table on the bank of Ganges.
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| Mustard Wheat field |
4pm we stopped for tea and lunch at place about 50km from
Allahabad. Not very clean place, we restrain ourselves to take ground nuts and
tea. People were on the way back from hectic Maha Kumbh Mela. There was road
jam at the exit; it took 3hours to cross Allahabad to reach this place.
We restarted at 5 pm after sunset by 6 pm roads were slowly
becoming more crowded by returning traffic. Before entering into Allahabad
there was major road jam by outgoing traffic. It took 2 hours to cross
Chandrasekhar Azaad Bridge over Ganges. It was impossible to reach Ankur Guest
house 70 Vivekanand Marg near Allahabad railway station. All roads were
blocked, Mr Duggal the proprietor of the guest house advised us to check in
Kundan guest house behind Anand Bhavan Tegore town,belonging to them. We were calling my sister in
laws house which was very near but impossible to cross the road or get any
direction guide. With help from road side shops and police we reached Kundan
Guest house around 9.30pm. Room no 2 was given to us. Had we come a day earlier
it was not possible to check in any of these guest houses. The room allotted to us was vacant due to inability of the original guest to come.
Tripti decided to take bath at night, we started by 10pm on
the way to Allahpur got a rickshaw. There were several barricades, till 6pm
from early morning whole area was crowded, walking was the only way to reach
Ganges. Place was nearly deserted,
policemen were tiered; they gave us way to cross several barricades to reach
near Sangam. We walked small distance to reach Ganges. Bathing was easy; few
people were still arriving at night for bath.
After divine dip we walked back with Ganges water. After
walking for about 3 Km got another rickshaw to reach Kundan Guest house, which
was impossible to reach at midnight. Watchman and supervisor were surprised for
our easy guided bathing which was not possible in the morning.
Next morning there was noise outside about the accident
which took place around 7 pm at Allahabad station and near Ankur Guest house. There
was rumor of all trains were cancelled and roads were blocked. We decided to go
back as soon as possible.
On the way back we reached Lucknow by 4pm and stayed at Deep Avadh hotel, old but very well managed. Went by rickshaw for shopping. Next morning flight to Hyderabad was at 6.45 pm.
There was no special experience which I was expecting.
Journey was very easy. I thanked God and everyone who made our journey so comfortable and exciting.
Kiran told me next day that I was supposed to meet Babaji (Adi Guru
of Yoganand). My younger brother suggested whether we met HIM as Rickshaw
puller. My sister (Shubrhadi) asked me to meditate and ask Babaji to come in a
form where I can recognize him. She has recently finished reading Autobiography
of Yogi.
