Allahabad: Month-long kalpwas begins at Kumbh

ALLAHABAD: Over 10 lakh devotees on Monday started 'kapwas', a month-long stay at the Sangam, for seeking religious and spiritual solace, after taking holy dip in river Ganga on the occasion of Paush Purnima. The 'kalpwasis' survive on prayers and 'satvik' (virtuous) meal once a day during 'kalpwas', which ends on Maghi Purnima.


Religious scholar Pt Ram Naresh Tripathi said, "Kalpwasis participate in spiritual activities, listen to religious discourse and make their own 'satvik' meal. They would be spending a month on the banks of Ganga, living an austere and minimalistic life."

Indu Devi, 65, a native of Raipura in Chitrakoot district, who started her 12th 'kalpwas', said, "Once I do this kalpwas, I would complete the ritual of 'shaiyya daan' (donation of bed) which leads to salvation."

Pilgrims from various states, including Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, have assembled here to perform 'kalpwas'.

Another pilgrim R K Pandey said, "We wish to stay on Ganga bank and take the holy dip on Mauni Amawasya and Basant Panchami on February 4 and 10, respectively."

Scholars say that Vedas mention a 'Kalp' to be a period equal to the number of years in four 'yugas' — Satyug, Treta, Dwapar and Kalyug. It is said that by piously observing a "kalpwas", a devotee overcomes the sins in his/her previous birth and escapes the cycle of 'janma' (birth) and 'mrityu' (death).

During each day of Magh month, a 'kalpwasi' has to take a dip in the Ganga on sunrise and praying to the rising Sun. Majority of the 'kalpwasis' take only a meal a day. After observing 12 'kalpwas', a 'kalpwasi' has to donate his/her bed and all his belongings (a ritual known as ‘shayya daan’).