Soul of the Ganges

Every 12 years, millions of Indians flock to Allahabad, India, for the most significant religious event on the planet: the Kumbh Mela. This sacred city, where the Ganges and Yamuna rivers converge, together with the mythical Sarasvati river, receives 120 million peregrines from all over India and beyond to bathe in the precise spot, the Triveni Sangam, where the three rivers meet. This is far more than a religious event; it is a celebration of India and humanity in its incredible variety. Again, in 2019, this is the largest ever congregation of people in human history. Such a massive event cannot be captured in a few photos of sadhus bathing in the river or the various pujas happening everywhere. So much energy and activity defy our comprehension. I have focused on some details to illustrate the Kumbh's spiritual and yet festive ambience, its profound humanity, and its sometimes-great irony. There is nothing like it anywhere else on the planet, an experience of a lifetime worth enjoying and the best place on earth to capture the richness of the human experience.