Kumbha Mela
Simhastha Kumbha at Nashik, Aug/Sept 2015~ Romola Butalia
When Jupiter is in Leo and the Sun and Moon are in Cancer, the legends of the Gautami Ganga and of the jyotirlinga at Tryambakeshwar are revealed in age-old tradition at the Simhastha Kumbha, the supremely sacred conjunction of time and space that beckons the faithful for the auspicious snan. Read More...
Simhastha Kumbha Mela at Ujjain 2016~ Romola Butalia
Ujjain, on the banks of the sacred Shipra river, is in the state of Madhya Pradesh, in central India. Here, the Simhastha is celebrated every 12 years. This is also the centre of Hindu timekeeping. Read More...
Photo Gallery: Kumbha mela, Ujjain
Powerful images of the Kumbh that tell its own story by photo-journalist Alok Johri. Read More...
Photo Gallery: Kumbh Revisited~ Alok Johri
The Kumbha must be experienced to know what draws us to it again and again. Images by photo-journalist Alok Johri. Read More...
Photo Gallery: Kumbha Mela at Prayag
At Prayag where the Ganga, Yamuna and the erstwhile Saraswati river, now become subtle, conjoin, the sacred Kumbha is a mystical experience. Read More...
Legends of Kumbha ~ Romola Butalia
A Kumbha procession defies description - it must be experienced to be known. It is heralded by the conjunction of planets at an auspicious time and place, and it is the convergence of a spiritual energy that has it's own compelling power. Read More...
Sadhu-Sanyasins at the Kumbha ~ Romola Butalia
Adi Shankaracharya classified the Adwaitvadi Sannyasins into ten groups : Giri, Puri, Bharti, Tirtha, Wan, Aranya, Parwat, Ashram, Sagar and Saraswati. This organisation is known as Dashnami Sangh. Read More...
Practical Guide to Kumbha
Romola Butalia, Editor, India Travelogue, outlines the practical difficulties of attending a Kumbha Festival, and provides an insiders' perspective to a planned visit. Read More...
Kumbh at Allahabd in 2013 ~ Romola Butalia
Behind the scenes, the administration geared up and the sadhu-sannyasins set up camps for the greatest spiritual congregation on earth. Read More...
Kumbha at Haridwar in 2010
Romola Butalia, Editor, India Travelogue, outlines the practical difficulties of attending a Kumbha Festival, and provides an insiders' perspective to a planned visit. Read More...
Kumbh at Ujjain in 2004 ~ Romola Butalia
Behind the scenes, the administration geared up and the sadhu-sannyasins set up camps for the greatest spiritual congregation on earth. Read More...
Notes from the Kumbh: Is it a Transformative Experience? ~ Raman Nanda
While living on the banks of the Ganga and filing reports on the event, this journalist watched from the sidelines reluctant to take a dip. On an auspicious bathing day, wedged by humanity on all sides, the freezing cold water warmed his heart and his thoughts moved back in time from his mother to his Grandfather to his ancestors, to their ancestors along a lineage that obviously stretched back infinitely. "The awareness that I am just a speck - across history - was very real." Read More...
Notes from the Kumbh: From Friend to Sage ~ Raman Nanda
Excerpt: As we sat talking to a group of Sadhus, I was acutely aware of this awesome looking one - tall, white robes, beard touching his knees and wild Naga-like matted hair. He called me by my name. I turned to him in wonder and amusement. "God! One of those Sadhus, who are supposed to be divine and all!" Read More...
Notes from the Kumbh: Vignettes ~ Raman Nanda
Experienced journalist Nanda captures stray impressions of the Kumbh that have a lasting impact - Namaste: to the divine in you. Helpful policemen at the Kumbh. Read More...
Indian Railways
Steam Railways of England
Manohar Rakhe, an ardent fan of Indian Railways is equally fascinated by the steam railways of England which are privately owned and operated by volunteers, preserving a tradition and heritage with an undeniable romantic appeal. Read More...
Darjeeling Himalayan Railways
T. T. Shringla, long-time resident of Darjeeling and retired civil servant recalls the building of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and particularly remembers Franklyn Prestage who was responsible for the creation of the marvellous 'toy train' to Darjeeling. Read More...
Indian Railways
The first railway on the Indian sub-continent ran a stretch of 21 miles from Mumbai to Thane. Read More...
On the Right Tracks
The best way to get to know a vast country like India is to traverse it by Indian Railways. They run 1300 trains and move more than 14 million people every day, over a route length of 67,000 kms. Read More...
Toy Train to Darjeeling
T.T.Shringla flashes back six decades to pay homage to the toy train to Darjeeling that still chugs its way up the hills to Darjeeling. Read More...
Views
Save Yamuna, Save Vrindavan ~ Editorial
A plea to join the signature campaign. Yamuna is dying. Save Yamuna. How can we stand at her banks and watch her plight without feeling our own wrong-doing in our hearts? How can we watch the early morning rays of the sun gently caress the quivering river on the banks of Vrindavan and not wonder if Surya, giver of prana, will be moved to action against us who torture his beloved daughter? Do we not shiver at the thought of the curse of her brother Yama, the Lord of Death, who is protected by her and is her protectress? Will Lord Krishna who protected his devotee Draupadi so the battle of the Mahabharat ensued, watch his beloved Yamuna die? Can Yamuna indeed die? Or is it a call to us to save ourselves before the impossible becomes imminent? Read More...
Jatayu Will Fly Again! ~ Siddhartha Butalia
The writer says, "London is cold. Colder since the tragic events in Mumbai, and the deep sense of helplessness that permeates, escalated by the sheer distance I am from the city I call home." Read More...
It's Not Enough to Be Revolted by Terror ~ Sultan Al Qassemi
The author writes, "It is not enough for Muslims to be revolted by terror." He says, Our message must be clear: "These acts of violence contradict all human values and can be justified by nothing." Read More...
Images that Don't Go Away ~ Radha Nair
Anger burns in our hearts. The pictures being flashed on TV are horrific beyond reason, beyond human endurance. How did this doctrine of terrorism become so widespread? Why are we silent victims? When will it end? Read More...
Blogging: Tibet ~ Voice of Ambition
Blog on Tibet Read More...
