pilgrimage

The Lethal Panic

Madhavankutty Pillai

Stampedes, a recurring phenomenon in India, are paradoxical in the instinct for self-preservation itself fuelling the danger

The Maha Kumbh Mela: A Living Testament to India’s Spiritual Legacy

Amal Chandra

Over centuries, the Kumbh Mela has evolved from myth to monumental tradition, attracting saints, scholars, and seekers from around the world in an enduring celebration of faith and humanity

A Pilgrim’s Progress

Nanditha Krishna

The quest for good karma in a Char Dham adventure

The Appeal of Varanasi

Swapan Dasgupta

For the first time, pilgrims will be able to see the simple grandeur of the Kashi Vishwanath temple and its gold-topped dome

The spiritual is at its most spectacular when sadhus, seers, seekers, nirvana junkies and tourists of religious kitsch descend on Hinduism’s biggest carnival. Aditya Iyer goes to the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj