For once, religion is not a Hindu-Muslim contest or a mandir-masjid conflict over a disputed place of worship in the news media. This isn’t about Gyanvapi in Varanasi, Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Shahi Eidgah in Mathura, or Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh, where communal bad blood flows between the two communities.
This is an island of devotees surrounded by the waters of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, where up to 40 crore faithful are expected to take the holy dubki until 26 February.
With almost a sigh of relief, newspapers and television news channels united in their response to this extraordinary spectacle. Their coverage was filled with pious sentiments, wanderlust, and poetry in motion as this sea of humanity waded into “…the bone-chilling waters of the Sangam…” (The Times of India, 14 January). TV news anchors, reporters, and newspaper correspondents stood at the holy riverfront, mesmerised by the ‘Greatest Gathering of People on Earth’ (Times Now).
Seldom have we seen or read such expressions of goodwill and peace towards humanity in the print and broadcast news media: “A celebration of spiritual grandeur,” wrote Hindustan Times; a “Fest of Faith,” echoed NDTV 24×7; “A Symphony of Tradition and Belief,” declared Republic TV, while The Times of India described it as “A Sangam of Spirituality, Heritage & Warmth.”
The coverage speaks the language of love, capturing spellbinding images of people peacefully huddled together in a “…temporary city spanning 4,000 hectares” (Jargon Josh). Read this description of the first day’s sacred bath on Paush Purnima in The Indian Express: “Before the first ray of sunlight touched the horizon on Monday, the sands of the Sangam in Prayagraj began to stir as thousands of pilgrims shuffled toward the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.”
Television news channels had multiple reporters stationed at different points to describe similar scenes: “Maha Kumbh ka Maha beginning,” said India TV’s reporter. “People from all over India have come here in a true display of unity in diversity and aastha…”
Yet, even in this atmosphere of spiritual kinship, some news channels couldn’t resist being unnecessarily provocative: one headline on Republic TV read, ‘Hindu hain hum’ (We are Hindu).
But forget Republic TV. When you see the photographs and visuals (BBC) of the Maha Kumbh, you hold your breath, too. How is it possible for millions of people to gather in the same place, at the same time, and engage in the same ritual—in harmony?
Also read: Maha Kumbh and India’s new-age sadhus—riding Bullets, making Reels
As exotic as India gets
With the focus on ‘Rituals, Reverences, Rites’ (Times Now), news channels barely have time for other news. The Delhi Assembly election campaign peeks in and out—even amusing BJP posters of AAP leader and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as ‘Mogambo’ didn’t get more than a look-in.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with his Darth Vader look, went live for the opening of the Z-Morh tunnel—connecting Sonamarg and Gagangair in Jammu and Kashmir—on Monday and was the lead photograph in newspapers the next morning. Yet, inside, there was full-page coverage of the Maha Kumbh.
The sheer beauty and romanticism on display are too much to resist, and the news media makes no apology for its fascination.
It is a stereotypical feast for the eyes: the painted sadhus, the naked Naga sadhus, the decked-up animals, the foreign devotees, the dancing and chanting, the sea of bodies in the freezing water, hands folded in prayer—“the divine Maha Kumbh,” as India Today called it.
What could be more Exotic India than this?
Everyone is happy: happy to be there, happy with the arrangements, happy with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the “best facilities” (Zee News), and happy to be happy. Happy to be interviewed: Reporters across TV news channels asked visitors the standard question, “Aapko kaisa lag raha hai?” (How do you feel?), and pat came the reply: “Bahut achcha” (very good).
It’s no surprise that this question was frequently posed to visitors from abroad. On Republic Bharat, an Englishman said, “I am the reincarnation of Shiva.” Another foreigner said she was “very excited to see the real India –“I love India—mera Bharat mahaan,”
Julie, a visitor told Times Now Navbharat that, “It is very special to be here – to dive into the sacred point…” Several others sang bhajans and recited Sanskrit shlokas. One gentleman came from Georgia, another from Australia, and a third from Japan, the TNNB reporter told us.
Newspapers like The Times of India also interviewed people from abroad: “Ronny Luke from New Jersey is smitten by the Sangam’s charm,” it wrote. “Real India is not in malls, but at Maha Kumbh,” added Vikas Dhar from the US.
A mela of news stories
However, the one person of interest from the United States, who stood out from the milling crowds, , was Laurene Jobs, aka ‘Kamla’—the wife of the deceased Steve Jobs.
This pilgrim’s progress has been covered by most news media outlets with undue curiosity – they have been tracking her stay in Prayagraj with minute interest—when she fell sick, it was immediately a news story.
The other popular vox populi have been the elderly faithful: NDTV India found an 80+ woman who travelled alone by train from her Jharkhand village without informing her family. The reporter pressed to her call her son, but she showed scant interest in doing so.
Besides the visitors, the main talking point for the news media has been the arrangements: Everyone seemed inordinately interested in the toilets at the site. In this Hindustan Times story, it’s difficult to keep up with the numbers: 15,000 toilets, 5,000 urinals, 12,000 reinforced plastic toilets with septic tanks, 9,000 prefabricated steel-based toilets, 350 mobile toilets, 1,500 cemented toilets, 50 VIP toilets…
Everything at the Maha Kumbh was a news story: IMD weather updates was a report in The Times of India. Meanwhile, The Hindu discovered a special radio service for the Maha Kumbhis—it’s called Kumbhvani, what else.
And, how at about this Business Standard article, which probably contains the only sad story from the mela—returns during the festival have been negative.
Doesn’t make Sensex, does it?
The author tweets @shailajabajpai. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)