The Kumbh Mela

by Mark Tully

The Kumbh is an awe-inspiring demonstration of simple piety and a clear example of the power of myth. Of course the Kumbh Mela is a magnificent spectacle. Millions of people gathered in one place, colorful holy men, naked sadhus, wondrous feats of asceticism, piety on a scale unparalleled anywhere else. But much more than a spectacle, the Kumbh Mela is an experience, an experience for which we have to shed our certainties and our self-confidence to be able to capture its meaning through the power of the imagination.

About the Author:

Mark Tully spent over twenty years of his life as BBC Delhi Correspondent and covered many of the major events in South Asia. After leaving the BBC he continued to live in Delhi with his partner Gillian Wright and work as a freelance broadcaster, journalist, and writer. He has now written four books on India.