Kumbh: Lost at the mela

Events like the Kumbh mela, prove the trope true, though the drama here ends in a few hours, at most in a day or two rather than run into several years as in films.

arun

Arun Kumar | March 1, 2019 | Delhi


#Lost   #Yogi Adityanath   #Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela   #Hinduism   #Hindu civilisation   #Kumbh Mela 2019   #Kumbh  
Photos: Arun Kumar
Photos: Arun Kumar

Indian movies have often used the idea of brothers separated from each other at melas. Sometimes it is members of a family who get separated. Events like the Kumbh mela, now on in Prayagraj, prove the trope true, though the drama here ends in a few hours, at most in a day or two rather than run into several years as in films. Reuniting the lost with their loved ones are dedicated volunteers at booths like this one.

 







While announcements are made over public address systems, those who are lost (usually old folks, women and children) are sheltered in the booths. There is some weeping, as in the pictures on the left and right, but happy endings happen sooner than  later.



A volunteer takes careful note of a lost person’s details before an announcement is made. There are strict rules to follow before every reunion.



Comforting lost children till their parents or guardians turn up is difficult, but volunteers at the Kumbh do their best.

Comments

 

Other News

Mumbai’s missing affordable homes

Mumbai’s real estate market keeps growing, yet homeownership remains out of reach for much of its population. Three experts – urban researcher Hussain Indorewala, urban planner Vidyadhar Phatak and developer Kamlesh Thakur of NAREDCO Maharashtra, agree that simply constructing more apartments

Rubio denies US foreknowledge of Starlink restrictions in Ukraine

US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said he was unfamiliar with the Wall Street Journal report suggesting Elon Musk had decided to throttle Starlink services in Ukraine, but rejected claims that Washington had ordered the restrictions to pressure Kyiv.   “There was no

Can AI change India’s breast cancer story?

Breast cancer has become a public-health challenge in India. The greatest opportunity is to find cancers earlier. Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening a new era in breast cancer detection. AI systems can analyse mammograms and other breast-imaging studies, identify subtle abnormalities and assist radi

Farm stability in the time of climate change

Indian agriculture is experiencing significant climate volatility, while the world economy seems to be in a highly volatile situation. Economic indices from various countries show that they need to recalibrate their strategies to withstand economic headwinds. In such a challenging situation, a country li

El Niño threatens India’s Rabi crops

India’s southwest monsoon ended with a 13% rainfall deficit in 2026, its weakest performance in a decade, raising concerns over agricultural production, water security and the upcoming rabi season. With El Niño expected to persist into early 2027, experts warn that declining soil moisture, dep

Regulating the data advantage: India’s new e-Commerce framework

For over a decade, India’s e-commerce story has rested on a simple premise: platforms connect buyers and sellers, while data fuels efficiency, personalisation, and scale. However, as the market matured, its structure has revealed a growing imbalance. E-commerce platforms, especially marketplace ent

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter