Khumbh Mela

A couple weeks ago, a group of us from eMi made a trip to a city called Haridwar.  Haridwar has special importance this year because it is the site of the Khumbh Mela.  This Hindu festival has such great significance that, over a 3 month period, 100 million people from around the world will travel to Haridwar to bathe in the river Ganga (Delhi population is 14 million).   There are many reasons why they do so, but for many people, the merit / favor-earning act of pilgrimage itself is just as important as their particular / personal request to the goddess. I am told that many come to seek forgiveness from sin and that bathing in the river makes the person clean both physically and spiritually.
  
We visited Haridwar to further our understanding of Hinduism and to experience the mass of humanity (it is said that the “high day” of the Khumbh Mela is the largest gathering of humanity on earth).  We watched the events, visited with folks about the Khumbh and simply walked the experience.  I pray that these people will someday find what they are seeking…forgiveness…redemption…Hope.