People from all over the world are coming to India for the Maha Kumbh, a huge gathering that takes place near the Swastik Dwar in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. One of them is Tommu, who traveled all the way from Sweden. He loves talking to wise men, known as seers, about Hinduism. Tommu thinks it’s a great place to learn about the deeper meanings of this ancient faith, which includes popular gods like Rama, Krishna, and Shiva.
Tommu, who wears two necklaces made of special Rudraksh beads, believes many visitors are curious about Hindu teachings. He said, “People chant ‘Hare Rama, Hare Krishna’ and enjoy it, but they want to learn more.” He feels India is well-known for its spirituality and hopes to explore more of the country in the future.
Leslie and John Chatham from Austin, Texas, are also at the Maha Kumbh for the first time. Their group has nine members from different countries including the UK and Canada. They feel the energy is amazing and the people are wonderful. Leslie, who sells real estate, enjoys working with Indian clients.
Some foreigners are even taking on new Hindu names. For example, Tom, the son of a former US Army officer, left his IT job to fully embrace Hinduism. Now called Swami Vyasanand Giri, he has taken on a special role in the Panchayati Akhara Shri Niranjani. This transformation happened after years of learning about Hindu practices, like yoga and meditation, and visiting sacred places in India.
Another visitor, Michael, a former US Army soldier, is known as Baba Mokshpuri now. He started his spiritual journey after experiencing the loss of his son. He said, “I realized that life is temporary, and that made me want to find deeper meaning.” He first visited India in 2000 and has been living here since. He feels that meditation and yoga helped him heal.
Michael attends these big spiritual events every time they happen. He also visited the ashram of Neem Karoli Baba, which he found to be life-changing. He felt a special energy there and plans to create an ashram in New Mexico to share Indian spiritual ideas.
Mahant Ravindra Puri, the leader of one of the akharas, said that foreigners who embrace Hinduism do so with great dedication. The Maha Kumbh Mela started on January 13 and will continue until February 26, attracting millions of devotees to the holy waters of the Triveni Sangam.
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