Kumbh Mela: Lost and Found
Posted on January 9, 2007
The Kumbh Mela occurs 4 times in a period of twleve 12 years with a Maha Kumbh Mela (Great Urn Festival) held every 12 years and an Ardh Kumbh Mela (Ardh=half) held once every 6 years at Prayag, near Allahabad. Prayag happens to be at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. This year happens to be the year of the ardh kumbh mela which is in progress right now. The festival traces its roots to when the Devas and Asuras churned the oceans for Amruta, the elixir, and in the fight that ensued, a few drops are said to have fallen down on the 4 Kumbh Mela locations.
The Maha Kumbh Mela is the largest religious gathering of any kind anywhere in the world. With crowds this huge, it is only to be expected that families and friends get lost and seperated. This post is not so much about the Kumbh Mela as much as it is about one remarkable person.
Raja Ram Tiwari has operated a lost and found stall at major Kumbh Melas since 1946 and has helped reunite more than 633,000 families! His moniker “Bhule-Bhatke Tiwari” (Forgotten-Lost Tiware) sounds apt. 80 years old and still going strong! May he live long, and continue to spread hope and joy. Read some stories of how he helped reunite families at this BBC article.
(Image copyright: BBC)
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