The National Green Tribunal has directed the UP chief secretary to take urgent steps to dispose of the solid waste that has accumulated in Allahabad post-Kumbh Mela and fix accountability of officers in this regard.

Taking note of a report filed by a committee headed by Justice Arun Tandon, the NGT said the situation in the area was alarming and it needed to be dealt with on an urgent basis to avoid the spread of epidemics.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said accountability must be fixed at the ground level and personal supervision by senior-level officers ensured.

"We accordingly direct that an appropriate monitoring mechanism of fixing accountability of ground-level officers and the level of the officers required to monitor may be determined by the chief secretary at the earliest, preferably before April 26 on which date, the chief secretary, state of Uttar Pradesh, is expected to appear before this tribunal," the bench said.

The tribunal said that on perusal of photographs, it was found that there was an urgent need for restoration work for the treatment of sewage water, remediation work for drains and solid waste processing.

The direction came after examining the report of Justice Tandon which said that a large number of toilets have been constructed at various camps on the 'Arail' side very close to the river.

"Sewage received at the Rajapur STP was in excess of the installed capacity. Only 50 per cent of Rajapur drain was being treated through Geo tube and the remaining 50 per cent was being permitted to enter river Ganga without treatment. At Jodhwal Nala Rasoolabad, the capacity of bioremediation technology was 6 million litres per day," the report said.

"At Salori STP, the 29 MLD plant was not working satisfactorily. Sewage was in excess of capacity. BOD level was 47 mg per litre. The Geo tube was not working satisfactorily. 50 per cent of the sewage from the Salori drain was being trapped. Remaining was being permitted to enter river Ganga without treatment," it added.

The tribunal had earlier asked the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to monitor the environment during the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad.

The NGT had said that since the religious festival was being conducted on a large scale, segregation of waste should be done at source by educating the people.

It had directed that the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and other authorities to display posters and banners and distribute handbills to educate people with regard to waste management.&nbsp;

The National Green Tribunal has directed the UP chief secretary to take urgent steps to dispose of the solid waste that has accumulated in Allahabad post-Kumbh Mela and fix accountability of officers in this regard.

The National Green Tribunal has directed the UP chief secretary to take urgent steps to dispose of the solid waste that has accumulated in Allahabad post-Kumbh Mela and fix accountability of officers in this regard. Taking note of a report filed by a committee headed by Justice Arun Tandon, the NGT said the situation in the area was alarming and it needed to be dealt with on an urgent basis to avoid the spread of epidemics. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said accountability must be fixed at the ground level and personal supervision by senior-level officers ensured. "We accordingly direct that an appropriate monitoring mechanism of fixing accountability of ground-level officers and the level of the officers required to monitor may be determined by the chief secretary at the earliest, preferably before April 26 on which date, the chief secretary, state of Uttar Pradesh, is expected to appear before this tribunal," the bench said. The tribunal said that on perusal of photographs, it was found that there was an urgent need for restoration work for the treatment of sewage water, remediation work for drains and solid waste processing. The direction came after examining the report of Justice Tandon which said that a large number of toilets have been constructed at various camps on the 'Arail' side very close to the river. "Sewage received at the Rajapur STP was in excess of the installed capacity. Only 50 per cent of Rajapur drain was being treated through Geo tube and the remaining 50 per cent was being permitted to enter river Ganga without treatment. At Jodhwal Nala Rasoolabad, the capacity of bioremediation technology was 6 million litres per day," the report said. "At Salori STP, the 29 MLD plant was not working satisfactorily. Sewage was in excess of capacity. BOD level was 47 mg per litre. The Geo tube was not working satisfactorily. 50 per cent of the sewage from the Salori drain was being trapped. Remaining was being permitted to enter river Ganga without treatment," it added. The tribunal had earlier asked the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to monitor the environment during the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad. The NGT had said that since the religious festival was being conducted on a large scale, segregation of waste should be done at source by educating the people. It had directed that the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and other authorities to display posters and banners and distribute handbills to educate people with regard to waste management.

National Green Tribunal directs UP chief secretary to take urgent steps to deal with waste post Kumbh Mela

Prime Minister Narendra Modi donated Rs 21 lakh from his personal savings to the corpus fund for the welfare of sanitation workers of Kumbh Mela, his office said Wednesday.

The PM had felicitated sanitation workers who ensured cleanliness during the Kumbh recently by washing their feet. He also interacted with the sanitation workers, describing them as "real karma-yogis" whose contributions are being lauded all over.

"This is just the latest in the series of such steps taken by PM Modi," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet, sharing several such instances.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday congratulated ministers, officials and sanitation workers for making the Kumbh Mela -- the world's largest gathering of religious pilgrims -- a successful event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi donated Rs 21 lakh from his personal savings to the corpus fund for the welfare of sanitation workers of Kumbh Mela, his office said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi donated Rs 21 lakh from his personal savings to the corpus fund for the welfare of sanitation workers of Kumbh Mela, his office said Wednesday. The PM had felicitated sanitation workers who ensured cleanliness during the Kumbh recently by washing their feet. He also interacted with the sanitation workers, describing them as "real karma-yogis" whose contributions are being lauded all over. "This is just the latest in the series of such steps taken by PM Modi," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet, sharing several such instances. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday congratulated ministers, officials and sanitation workers for making the Kumbh Mela -- the world's largest gathering of religious pilgrims -- a successful event.

PM Modi donates Rs 21 lakh to Kumbh Mela sanitation workers: PMO

The “Kumbh Mela” administration have made elaborate security and other necessary arrangements in wake of anticipated 60 lakh to 1 crore people visiting at Prayagraj on the occasion of Maha Shivratri on Monday.

“About 60 lakh to 1 crore people are expected to come and we have prepared accordingly. The preparations are similar to the preparations done on the occasions of previous ‘snans’", Vijay Kiran Anand, District Magistrate, Kumbh said.

“Deployment of forces has been beefed up in the main ‘snan’ area. About 400 personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces have been called for deployment at various locations including the major intersections,” he said.

However, the official informed that “Akshay Vat” and “Saraswti Koop” which were thrown open to pilgrims this Maha Kumbh will remain close keeping in view that a large number of people are expected to throng both.&nbsp;

“Extra forces have been called from the neighbouring districts of Kaushambi, Pratapgarh and Fatehpur,” said DIG KP Singh.

Further, police have been deployed in plain clothes at various locations to keep a vigil and round the clock, CCTV monitoring is also being done.

Kumbh Mela is the largest human congregation in the world, with over 130 million pilgrims expected to participate in the festival with the belief that taking a dip in the holy water of Ganges River will pave the way for their salvation and would rid them of their sins. The 55-day long Kumbh Mela will end on March 4.

The “Kumbh Mela” administration have made elaborate security and other necessary arrangements in wake of anticipated 60 lakh to 1 crore people visiting at Prayagraj on the occasion of Maha Shivratri on Monday.

The “Kumbh Mela” administration have made elaborate security and other necessary arrangements in wake of anticipated 60 lakh to 1 crore people visiting at Prayagraj on the occasion of Maha Shivratri on Monday. “About 60 lakh to 1 crore people are expected to come and we have prepared accordingly. The preparations are similar to the preparations done on the occasions of previous ‘snans’", Vijay Kiran Anand, District Magistrate, Kumbh said. “Deployment of forces has been beefed up in the main ‘snan’ area. About 400 personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces have been called for deployment at various locations including the major intersections,” he said. However, the official informed that “Akshay Vat” and “Saraswti Koop” which were thrown open to pilgrims this Maha Kumbh will remain close keeping in view that a large number of people are expected to throng both. “Extra forces have been called from the neighbouring districts of Kaushambi, Pratapgarh and Fatehpur,” said DIG KP Singh. Further, police have been deployed in plain clothes at various locations to keep a vigil and round the clock, CCTV monitoring is also being done. Kumbh Mela is the largest human congregation in the world, with over 130 million pilgrims expected to participate in the festival with the belief that taking a dip in the holy water of Ganges River will pave the way for their salvation and would rid them of their sins. The 55-day long Kumbh Mela will end on March 4.

Security beefed up as around one crore people expected to visit Kumbh Mela on Maha Shivratri

The Sangam, confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, is all set to witness the last dip of the Kumbh Mela on Mahashivratri Monday, after more than 22 crore devotees took a holy bath here.&nbsp;

"This day symbolises the last holy bath of the Kalpvasis and is directly related to Lord Shiva. As per the mythology, this day is awaited in the heavens as well," Gunjan Varshney, president of Ram Naam Bank situated at Civil Lines here, told PTI.

She also said it was on this day that Lord Shiva got married, and hence is eagerly awaited by his followers, who worship him.

Elaborating about the significance of Mahashivratri, Ashutosh Varshney of Grah Nakshtram, who has set up his camp here, said, "Mahashivratri marks the culmination of the Kumbh and the prominent bathing days. And this time Mahashivratri is falling on a Monday ? the day dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is falling after a long time."

The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, held in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad from January 15 on Makar Sakranti to March 4 this year.

"This is a very rare coincidence and the Sangam area will remain more crowded than previous years since it is the last bating day," he said.

Varshney said Kumbh will conclude on a rare occasion, Mahashivratri.

He also said 'Rudrabhishek' of 'shivling' is also done on this day. In the Kumbh held in Sangam city, there were six bathing dates. "Of these, shahi snaans were held on occasions of Makar Sankranti (January 15), Mauni Amawasya (February 4) and Basant Panchami (February 10).&nbsp;

"Apart from this, 'parv snaans have been held on the occasion of Paush Poornima (January 21) and Maghi Poornima (February 19)," Varshney said.&nbsp;

The Kumbh draws lakhs of pilgrims over the course of approximately 55 auspicious days to bathe at the Sangam.&nbsp;

It is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years.&nbsp;

The Sangam, confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, is all set to witness the last dip of the Kumbh Mela on Mahashivratri Monday, after more than 22 crore devotees took a holy bath here.

The Sangam, confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, is all set to witness the last dip of the Kumbh Mela on Mahashivratri Monday, after more than 22 crore devotees took a holy bath here. "This day symbolises the last holy bath of the Kalpvasis and is directly related to Lord Shiva. As per the mythology, this day is awaited in the heavens as well," Gunjan Varshney, president of Ram Naam Bank situated at Civil Lines here, told PTI. She also said it was on this day that Lord Shiva got married, and hence is eagerly awaited by his followers, who worship him. Elaborating about the significance of Mahashivratri, Ashutosh Varshney of Grah Nakshtram, who has set up his camp here, said, "Mahashivratri marks the culmination of the Kumbh and the prominent bathing days. And this time Mahashivratri is falling on a Monday ? the day dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is falling after a long time." The Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, held in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad from January 15 on Makar Sakranti to March 4 this year. "This is a very rare coincidence and the Sangam area will remain more crowded than previous years since it is the last bating day," he said. Varshney said Kumbh will conclude on a rare occasion, Mahashivratri. He also said 'Rudrabhishek' of 'shivling' is also done on this day. In the Kumbh held in Sangam city, there were six bathing dates. "Of these, shahi snaans were held on occasions of Makar Sankranti (January 15), Mauni Amawasya (February 4) and Basant Panchami (February 10). "Apart from this, 'parv snaans have been held on the occasion of Paush Poornima (January 21) and Maghi Poornima (February 19)," Varshney said. The Kumbh draws lakhs of pilgrims over the course of approximately 55 auspicious days to bathe at the Sangam. It is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years.

Kumbh 2019: Sangam all set to witness last holy dip on Mahashivratri on Monday

In pics: Naga sadhus exude charisma and mystery at Kumbh

In pics: Significance of taking a dip on 'Mauni Amavasya' at ongoing Kumbh Mela

Kumbh 2019: Mauritius PM takes a holy dip in Sangam

The Kumbh Mela has attracted millions of people for centuries on the shores of the confluence of mighty river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical third river Saraswati. But this edition of Kumbh is different for the fact that it is the most expensive Kumbh organised ever in Prayagraj.&nbsp;

The biggest gathering on the planet straight before the delirium of general elections 2019, Kumbh comes in as an exceptional opportunity for the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh where a strong demonstration by a political party can decide the prime minister of the country, and this gave way to worth $600 million event which will try to attract more than 130 million pilgrims and tourists within 49 days. The Mela is to showcase BJP's commitment to the people of India&nbsp;

Foreign tourists

A major part of the funds has been spent to attract foreign visitors who are seen as the real source of revenue. The area has also been doubled to 3,200 hectares as compared to 1,600 hectares in the previous Melas. 
 
According to Confederation of Indian Industry,(CII), the mega Kumbh Mela is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 1.2 lakh crore for Uttar Pradesh, but so far it seems impossible in absence of foreign tourists.

A 4,000 tent-strength city of temporary accommodation has also come up at the Mela for tourists. These tents can be booked for as cheap as Rs 650 a bed or Rs 35,000 for the whole tent.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="Kumbh Mela" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aae48043-4555-4ffe-9aa9-f74bf52a411a" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/kumbh2.jpeg" />

We visited a tent city with a strength of 1800 tents, which had only 10 foreign tourists staying on January 21, the day of Mauni Amavasya. However, the government had predicted more than 1 crore people visiting Kumbh that day.

They had huge expectations from this Kumbh and these tents were supposed to be booked by now, but so far only a small number of foreign clients have turned up.&nbsp;

One of the studies by CII claims that the hospitality sector aims at employing 2,50,000 people; aviation sector around 1,50,000 and tour operators around 45,000. Apart from this, there will be around 55,000 new jobs in the unorganised sector comprising tour guides, taxi drivers, interpreters and volunteers.&nbsp;

But who are the consumers of these facilities in 2019 Kumbh Mela which has maximum arrivals from some of the poorest states of India, such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar?

An average Indian visiting Prayagraj Kumbh Mela won't spend the money on tour guides and taxies. India's common man doesn't have such spending capacity. Even in the case of 100 million Indians attending the event, to generate revenue above 1 lakh crore we need foreign tourists arriving and staying at Kumbh.&nbsp; 
 
Organisers say 122,000 portable toilets and 20,000 trash cans have been installed for the visitors. Due to a lesser number of toilets in the previous Kumbh, people were forced to defecate in the open. Almost everyone who has attended the Kumbh this year is impressed with the cleanliness and hygiene maintained throughout.&nbsp;

For Kumbh's business, the trump card could be the 12 crore people who are expected to visit the Kumbh between now and the Maha Shivratri on March 4, when the Mela will come to a closure. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The Kumbh Mela has attracted millions of people for centuries on the shores of the confluence of mighty river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical third river Saraswati. But this edition of Kumbh is different for the fact that it is the most expensive Kumbh organised ever in Prayagraj.

The Kumbh Mela has attracted millions of people for centuries on the shores of the confluence of mighty river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical third river Saraswati. But this edition of Kumbh is different for the fact that it is the most expensive Kumbh organised ever in Prayagraj. The biggest gathering on the planet straight before the delirium of general elections 2019, Kumbh comes in as an exceptional opportunity for the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh where a strong demonstration by a political party can decide the prime minister of the country, and this gave way to worth $600 million event which will try to attract more than 130 million pilgrims and tourists within 49 days. The Mela is to showcase BJP's commitment to the people of India Foreign tourists A major part of the funds has been spent to attract foreign visitors who are seen as the real source of revenue. The area has also been doubled to 3,200 hectares as compared to 1,600 hectares in the previous Melas. According to Confederation of Indian Industry,(CII), the mega Kumbh Mela is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 1.2 lakh crore for Uttar Pradesh, but so far it seems impossible in absence of foreign tourists. A 4,000 tent-strength city of temporary accommodation has also come up at the Mela for tourists. These tents can be booked for as cheap as Rs 650 a bed or Rs 35,000 for the whole tent. We visited a tent city with a strength of 1800 tents, which had only 10 foreign tourists staying on January 21, the day of Mauni Amavasya. However, the government had predicted more than 1 crore people visiting Kumbh that day. They had huge expectations from this Kumbh and these tents were supposed to be booked by now, but so far only a small number of foreign clients have turned up. One of the studies by CII claims that the hospitality sector aims at employing 2,50,000 people; aviation sector around 1,50,000 and tour operators around 45,000. Apart from this, there will be around 55,000 new jobs in the unorganised sector comprising tour guides, taxi drivers, interpreters and volunteers. But who are the consumers of these facilities in 2019 Kumbh Mela which has maximum arrivals from some of the poorest states of India, such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar? An average Indian visiting Prayagraj Kumbh Mela won't spend the money on tour guides and taxies. India's common man doesn't have such spending capacity. Even in the case of 100 million Indians attending the event, to generate revenue above 1 lakh crore we need foreign tourists arriving and staying at Kumbh. Organisers say 122,000 portable toilets and 20,000 trash cans have been installed for the visitors. Due to a lesser number of toilets in the previous Kumbh, people were forced to defecate in the open. Almost everyone who has attended the Kumbh this year is impressed with the cleanliness and hygiene maintained throughout. For Kumbh's business, the trump card could be the 12 crore people who are expected to visit the Kumbh between now and the Maha Shivratri on March 4, when the Mela will come to a closure. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

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Colours of Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela: Unique saints energising devotees through cosmic healing

Prayagraj's Kumbh Mela is one of the only opportunities to see the reclusive Naga sadhus. These ascetics take a vow of celibacy and renounce worldly possessions. Besides the sadhus, there are many more saints who have been sharing their wisdom and knowledge with the world in the ongoing Mela. I met one such saint who is helping people by healing their minds and bodies with her cosmic practices.&nbsp;

The shores of Sangam have witnessed the conglomeration of the world’s most learned saints for centuries now. The Mela is touted as the largest religious gathering on the planet. Every nook and corner of the Mela site is studded with akharas set up by sadhus, saints with people gathering to experience their knowledge.

Sanyasini Shailja Devi has been practising meditation since she was 19. A former national basketball captain, she now takes pride in being a cosmic healer and helping people. Devi meditates for hours every day. Born in east Africa, she now lives in Junagadh, Gujrat. &nbsp;

With her years of practice, she claims she can feel the abnormalities in the energy that surrounds the body.

I visited her camp to experience the cosmic healing. I didn’t tell them about my health issues and asked them if they could them find and heal it.

Shailja Devi explained that cosmic healing works in three steps - scanning, cleansing and energising. With the method of cleansing, the excessive energy of the body is cleaned. It could be just excessive energy, diseases energy or blocked energy. After the cleansing is done, the body is energised. Fresh and healthy 'Prana' or energy is transferred to the body that strengthens and heals it.

She said that cosmic healing turns out to be a true life-giver. She has even healed those with mouth cancer

“I had patients of mouth cancer who could neither eat nor speak. After I started their treatment, they were able to eat some liquid food just after a month into the treatment,” she noted.&nbsp;

At the end of the whole process, she was able to tell the issues with my body, her diagnosis was almost true about my health.

I did feel lighter after the process, however, she said it wouldn’t bring immediate relief and asked me to practice meditation.&nbsp;

"A good healer is very important," she noted. Not everyone can practice this technique. "So, if you are attempting this technique or getting a session of healing done, just make sure that you have what is necessary," she concluded.&nbsp;

Prayagraj's Kumbh Mela is one of the only opportunities to see the reclusive Naga sadhus. These ascetics take a vow of celibacy and renounce worldly possessions.

Prayagraj's Kumbh Mela is one of the only opportunities to see the reclusive Naga sadhus. These ascetics take a vow of celibacy and renounce worldly possessions. Besides the sadhus, there are many more saints who have been sharing their wisdom and knowledge with the world in the ongoing Mela. I met one such saint who is helping people by healing their minds and bodies with her cosmic practices. The shores of Sangam have witnessed the conglomeration of the world’s most learned saints for centuries now. The Mela is touted as the largest religious gathering on the planet. Every nook and corner of the Mela site is studded with akharas set up by sadhus, saints with people gathering to experience their knowledge. Sanyasini Shailja Devi has been practising meditation since she was 19. A former national basketball captain, she now takes pride in being a cosmic healer and helping people. Devi meditates for hours every day. Born in east Africa, she now lives in Junagadh, Gujrat. With her years of practice, she claims she can feel the abnormalities in the energy that surrounds the body. I visited her camp to experience the cosmic healing. I didn’t tell them about my health issues and asked them if they could them find and heal it. Shailja Devi explained that cosmic healing works in three steps - scanning, cleansing and energising. With the method of cleansing, the excessive energy of the body is cleaned. It could be just excessive energy, diseases energy or blocked energy. After the cleansing is done, the body is energised. Fresh and healthy 'Prana' or energy is transferred to the body that strengthens and heals it. She said that cosmic healing turns out to be a true life-giver. She has even healed those with mouth cancer “I had patients of mouth cancer who could neither eat nor speak. After I started their treatment, they were able to eat some liquid food just after a month into the treatment,” she noted. At the end of the whole process, she was able to tell the issues with my body, her diagnosis was almost true about my health. I did feel lighter after the process, however, she said it wouldn’t bring immediate relief and asked me to practice meditation. "A good healer is very important," she noted. Not everyone can practice this technique. "So, if you are attempting this technique or getting a session of healing done, just make sure that you have what is necessary," she concluded.

Blog: At Kumbh, a former national basketball captain who is now a cosmic healer

With the beginning of Kumbh on January 15, Prayagraj is lit up like Diwali for the 2019 Kumbh Mela. The first Shahi Snan witnessed unprecedented crowds coming in from across the country and the world &nbsp;More than 15 crore people are expected this time for the Kumbh Mela. I met a German travel photographer, Mark Troger Bergis who is about to write a book on Kumbh and his spiritual journey.&nbsp;

Mark has been travelling to India since 2010 and he first came to India with the renowned photographer Steve McCurry to attend a photography workshop. He landed in Haridwar and was completely stunned by a mass of people.&nbsp;

Mark says it's hard for him to describe the Kumbh but what impressed him the most was&nbsp;Naga Sadhus. He calls them the rockstars of Kumbh Mela. This is Mark's second Kumbh, the first one he attended was held in 2013 in Prayagraj.

"None of the Kumbh gatherings is like the other, I have been here in earlier Kumbh. If I compare two Kumbhs there is a big difference and it's difficult to interpret," he said.

After his first confrontation with Nagas in Haridwar, Mark has been intrigued by their way of living and he has been following them all around in different Kumbh Melas for the past years.

He later travelled to India in 2013 and tried hard to capture the magic moments when Naga Babas come for Shahi Snan in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mystic river Saraswati. But with millions of people around in the gathering, it was difficult for him to get a perfect shot. In 2015, he visited one more Kumbh and travelled to Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, but he failed again as police stopped him. Nevertheless, in 2016 he finally succeeded and captured Naga babas while they took the royal bath.

"I want to tell people about personal experience and the holy event itself. Still, so many people don't know about it and it's the biggest gathering on earth, they are expecting 120 million people this year and it's unimaginable for the westerners."

Mark feels that the western media has always been unfair to India and has stereotyped it and gathering like Kumbh in many ways. He wants to show the true image to the west. He believes that the west can learn from India in many ways.

"In Christianity, we have events like these but nothing compared to the Kumbh, if you count the number of Hindu people, it's the third largest religion and it troubles me a little that we westerners know so little about Hinduism ."

This time, Mark came with his wife and took the first royal bath. The experience was stunning, especially for his wife. He is going to Switzerland to deliver a speech on Kumbh Mela and will return at the end of January.&nbsp;

One advice that Steve McCurry gave Mark in 2010 was- "If you come to Kumbh Mela you don't have to travel entire India, whole India comes to you in the Kumbh. There is something spiritual on the banks of these rivers."&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

With the beginning of Kumbh on January 15, Prayagraj is lit up like Diwali for the 2019 Kumbh Mela. The first Shahi Snan witnessed unprecedented crowds coming in from across the country and the world More than 15 crore people are expected this time for the Kumbh Mela.

With the beginning of Kumbh on January 15, Prayagraj is lit up like Diwali for the 2019 Kumbh Mela. The first Shahi Snan witnessed unprecedented crowds coming in from across the country and the world More than 15 crore people are expected this time for the Kumbh Mela. I met a German travel photographer, Mark Troger Bergis who is about to write a book on Kumbh and his spiritual journey. Mark has been travelling to India since 2010 and he first came to India with the renowned photographer Steve McCurry to attend a photography workshop. He landed in Haridwar and was completely stunned by a mass of people. Mark says it's hard for him to describe the Kumbh but what impressed him the most was Naga Sadhus. He calls them the rockstars of Kumbh Mela. This is Mark's second Kumbh, the first one he attended was held in 2013 in Prayagraj. "None of the Kumbh gatherings is like the other, I have been here in earlier Kumbh. If I compare two Kumbhs there is a big difference and it's difficult to interpret," he said. After his first confrontation with Nagas in Haridwar, Mark has been intrigued by their way of living and he has been following them all around in different Kumbh Melas for the past years. He later travelled to India in 2013 and tried hard to capture the magic moments when Naga Babas come for Shahi Snan in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mystic river Saraswati. But with millions of people around in the gathering, it was difficult for him to get a perfect shot. In 2015, he visited one more Kumbh and travelled to Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, but he failed again as police stopped him. Nevertheless, in 2016 he finally succeeded and captured Naga babas while they took the royal bath. "I want to tell people about personal experience and the holy event itself. Still, so many people don't know about it and it's the biggest gathering on earth, they are expecting 120 million people this year and it's unimaginable for the westerners." Mark feels that the western media has always been unfair to India and has stereotyped it and gathering like Kumbh in many ways. He wants to show the true image to the west. He believes that the west can learn from India in many ways. "In Christianity, we have events like these but nothing compared to the Kumbh, if you count the number of Hindu people, it's the third largest religion and it troubles me a little that we westerners know so little about Hinduism ." This time, Mark came with his wife and took the first royal bath. The experience was stunning, especially for his wife. He is going to Switzerland to deliver a speech on Kumbh Mela and will return at the end of January. One advice that Steve McCurry gave Mark in 2010 was- "If you come to Kumbh Mela you don't have to travel entire India, whole India comes to you in the Kumbh. There is something spiritual on the banks of these rivers." (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: What took this German photographer to Kumbh

Whopping 120 million expected to attend Kumbh Mela 2019

Meet the volunteers who help reunite lost pilgrims at Kumbh Mela

The sacred baths began at break of dawn as the sun rose faintly over the horizon and went on through the day till the last rays set over the Sangam, the chants of "Har Har Gange" reaching a crescendo as lakhs of people took a dip to mark the beginning of the Kumbh Mela on Tuesday.

By end of day, about 1.4 crore people had taken the ritual bath in the holy waters of the Sangam here, administration officials estimated.&nbsp;

Makar Sankranti, which marks the beginning of the festival, is one of the sacred days of the 50-day Kumbh Mela.

The confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati has called out to the religious for centuries and Tuesday was a continuation of an ancient ritual that has stood the test of time, history and modernisation.&nbsp;

Undeterred by the cold, a couple with their hands held tight stood waist deep in the river, a woman, her hands cupped, offered water to the rising sun, an ascetic took a dip with his eyes closed in veneration while a group of children frolicked nearby.

It was about religious fervour, spirituality, love and even fun at the 'Shahi Snan' (royal bath) on Makar Sakranti as devotees, ascetics and religious leaders of various orders gathered for the largest congregation in the world.&nbsp;

People from lands near and far braved the cold weather to take a dip in the icy waters, reaching the makeshift township of Kumbh Nagari, touted to be the world's biggest temporary city, as early as 4 am.&nbsp;

Sadhus of 13 akharas (seven Shaiva, three Vaishnava, two Udasina, and one Sikh) who have traditionally participated in the Kumbh Mela were the first to take the holy bath.

They marched in a procession, dancing and singing devotional songs, all the way to the waters. Each akhara, the term for an organisation of sadhus, was allocated 45 minutes to participate in the ritual bath by the Kumbh administration.&nbsp;

The order in which the holy dip is performed by various akharas is pre-determined. It started with Mahanirvani along with the Atal akhara, the Niranjani along with the Ananada Akhara, and the Juna along with the Avahana and Agni akharas.

They were followed by the Nirvani akhara, Digambara akhara, Nirmohi akhara, Bada Udasin akhara, Naya Udasin akhara and last, the lone Sikh Nirmal akhara.

Attracting eyeballs of one and all, especially foreigners, was the march of the Naga sadhus, a martial order of ascetics who roam naked with ash smeared on their bodies.

"It is surreal. I had always heard about them. In fact, one of the reasons we wanted to come to the Kumbh was to see them in real as we are told that this is the only festival in which they arrive in numbers," said Manuel Matthaus, who had come from Germany.

"Yes, I did plan to take the bath. But I guess the water now is too freezing for my liking. Maybe later," as his girlfriend captured the spectacle on her camera.

More than 12 crore people are expected to visit the Kumbh between now and Maha Shivratri on March 4.

It is traditionally called 'Ardh Kumbh' as it takes place twice in 12 years. But the present Uttar Pradesh government recently renamed it 'Kumbh'.

In 2013, according to a recent book 'Kumbha: The Traditionally Modern Mela', one in 10 Indians attended the grand religious event. The state government expects the number to be higher this time.&nbsp;

The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 4,200 crore for the Kumbh Mela, which is more than thrice the budget of the Maha Kumbh in 2013, making the mega pilgrimage perhaps the costliest ever.

"The UP government has allocated Rs 4,200 crore for 2019 Kumbh Mela. The previous state government had spent around Rs 1,300 crore for the Maha Kumbh, which was held in 2013," state Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal told PTI.

The auspicious bathing days of the 2019 Kumbh Mela include Paush Poornima (January 21), Mauni Amawasya (February 4), Basant Panchami (February 10), Maghi Poornima (February 19) and Mahashivratri (March 4).&nbsp;

The sacred baths began at break of dawn as the sun rose faintly over the horizon and went on through the day till the last rays set over the Sangam, the chants of "Har Har Gange" reaching a crescendo as lakhs of people took a dip to mark the beginning of the Kumbh Mela on Tuesday.

The sacred baths began at break of dawn as the sun rose faintly over the horizon and went on through the day till the last rays set over the Sangam, the chants of "Har Har Gange" reaching a crescendo as lakhs of people took a dip to mark the beginning of the Kumbh Mela on Tuesday. By end of day, about 1.4 crore people had taken the ritual bath in the holy waters of the Sangam here, administration officials estimated. Makar Sankranti, which marks the beginning of the festival, is one of the sacred days of the 50-day Kumbh Mela. The confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati has called out to the religious for centuries and Tuesday was a continuation of an ancient ritual that has stood the test of time, history and modernisation. Undeterred by the cold, a couple with their hands held tight stood waist deep in the river, a woman, her hands cupped, offered water to the rising sun, an ascetic took a dip with his eyes closed in veneration while a group of children frolicked nearby. It was about religious fervour, spirituality, love and even fun at the 'Shahi Snan' (royal bath) on Makar Sakranti as devotees, ascetics and religious leaders of various orders gathered for the largest congregation in the world. People from lands near and far braved the cold weather to take a dip in the icy waters, reaching the makeshift township of Kumbh Nagari, touted to be the world's biggest temporary city, as early as 4 am. Sadhus of 13 akharas (seven Shaiva, three Vaishnava, two Udasina, and one Sikh) who have traditionally participated in the Kumbh Mela were the first to take the holy bath. They marched in a procession, dancing and singing devotional songs, all the way to the waters. Each akhara, the term for an organisation of sadhus, was allocated 45 minutes to participate in the ritual bath by the Kumbh administration. The order in which the holy dip is performed by various akharas is pre-determined. It started with Mahanirvani along with the Atal akhara, the Niranjani along with the Ananada Akhara, and the Juna along with the Avahana and Agni akharas. They were followed by the Nirvani akhara, Digambara akhara, Nirmohi akhara, Bada Udasin akhara, Naya Udasin akhara and last, the lone Sikh Nirmal akhara. Attracting eyeballs of one and all, especially foreigners, was the march of the Naga sadhus, a martial order of ascetics who roam naked with ash smeared on their bodies. "It is surreal. I had always heard about them. In fact, one of the reasons we wanted to come to the Kumbh was to see them in real as we are told that this is the only festival in which they arrive in numbers," said Manuel Matthaus, who had come from Germany. "Yes, I did plan to take the bath. But I guess the water now is too freezing for my liking. Maybe later," as his girlfriend captured the spectacle on her camera. More than 12 crore people are expected to visit the Kumbh between now and Maha Shivratri on March 4. It is traditionally called 'Ardh Kumbh' as it takes place twice in 12 years. But the present Uttar Pradesh government recently renamed it 'Kumbh'. In 2013, according to a recent book 'Kumbha: The Traditionally Modern Mela', one in 10 Indians attended the grand religious event. The state government expects the number to be higher this time. The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 4,200 crore for the Kumbh Mela, which is more than thrice the budget of the Maha Kumbh in 2013, making the mega pilgrimage perhaps the costliest ever. "The UP government has allocated Rs 4,200 crore for 2019 Kumbh Mela. The previous state government had spent around Rs 1,300 crore for the Maha Kumbh, which was held in 2013," state Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal told PTI. The auspicious bathing days of the 2019 Kumbh Mela include Paush Poornima (January 21), Mauni Amawasya (February 4), Basant Panchami (February 10), Maghi Poornima (February 19) and Mahashivratri (March 4).

1.4 crore people take dip as Kumbh Mela begins in Prayagraj

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