Beeping, police men trying to direct, cyclists weaving in and out вЂ“ and us, in total gridlock. Entrepreneurs set up food and drink stalls on the side of the road. Coaches piled high on top with bags, duvets and suitcases. Motorbikes with people packed on, casually sitting 5 to a seat. People on foot carrying bags of food, blankets and shelter on their heads.

I sat in every position possible on my window seat and just watched the pilgrimage unfold. We detoured, we redirected, we got stuck in traffic вЂ“ with so many people heading to one place on every form of transport you can imagine, there were bound to be delays.

Journey to the Kumbh MelaДЄfter an enlightening and fascinating 36 hours in Varanasi, our group (all 44(!) journalists and bloggers from Europe, Oz, USA and India) travelled by coach to the Kumbh Mela grounds. To go on an adventure I never would by myself. My knowledge of those religions is limited, but Hinduism, nada.ДЄnd so, I said yes to a week in Varanasi, the Kumbh Mela, and Lucknow, to learn more. And then went to all the Christian ceremonies and celebrations as my Church of England primary school required. I studied Judaism and Islam at school, for my A Level in Religious Studies. But then, I donвЂ™t really know much about Hinduism, as I came to realise. DidnвЂ™t even know that as part of the Hindu religion, all Hindus were expected to attend at some point in their lives. IвЂ™d never even heard of the Kumbh Mela before the invite email popped into my inbox on Christmas Eve. For this post, letвЂ™s just say there were a LOT of people in Alalahabad for the three days I attended the Kumbh Mela in 2019. Estimates seem to range from 30 to 120 million depending on which Mela weвЂ™re talking about, and which day. The Kumbh Mela in India is THE largest religious gathering in the world.

Kumbh mela film