Friday19 Jan 03:31 PM

Mauni Amavasya On The Ganges: Ardh Kumbh 2007

Scene from Ardh Kumbh mela 2007.

"This is a moving temple, like a mobile phone."
Kanhaiya Lal Maharaj quoted by Reuters, India

The new moon night, or Mauni Amavasya, is celebrated today (Friday) —the most auspicious day in this six-week-long Hindu bathing festival known as Ardh Kumbh. The Mauni Amavasya is a day when sun, moon, Venus and Mercury are in the zodiac of Capricorn, a rare but perfect alignment of planets, devotees believe.

Millions of pilgrims are attending. "More than 18 million."

Scene from Ardh Kumbh mela 2007.

It is thought to be the largest (meatspace) gathering of humanity on the planet. Just let that fact absorb into your consciousness. Watch the masses of pilgrims flock (video: Google | Youtube | BBC). We are, they are; cellular autonoma, evoking a spirit possession of ebbing and flowing masses; many bodies, legions, and a singular harmonic overtone, mind.

Weigh that next to the day-to-day grind of New York City and it somehow haunts me. Haunting because I can still hear that overtone, that drone, well after the video clips stop. Threatening, harmonizing, who knows for sure? It is something about life here on Earth. Now. Jai Ganga Devi Ma!

Somehow though, watching the videos, seeing the photos (A | B) and the news feeds —as they roll in— strengthens that harmonic. In a small way, we tune in.

Pollution is still a problem on the Ganges, and for this event in particular. Ten percent of the world's population rely upon the Ganges as their primary water source. More details: Daily Telegraph | Times UK.

More: Canada.com | Earthtimes | BBC News.

(Thanks for the tip-off, Chris!)

posted by
Spiros Antonopoulos

TAGS — Ardh Kumbh, Ganga, Ganges, mela, saddhus

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Foremost credit goes to my wife Erin for her tireless patience + support of this endeavor. Thanks to Barry Silver for the artwork in the above banner and for his friendship, to Robert Beer for the illustrations. Thanks to Eddie Stern for his ongoing support and for providing inspiration. Thanks to my fellow farmers at One Digital Farm for help growing this.

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