It’s like a journey from one home to another: Kalpwasis

Allahabad: For Madhukar and his wife Archana, the commute from Magh Mela ground to their home in Pratapgarh was a journey from one home to another. The couple were among the hundreds of kalpwasis who headed back home on Sunday after living frugally along the banks of Ganga on the Magh Mela ground for a month.
“It’s like leaving one home for another. We met many devotees here and we got along just like a family. We are taking back soil from the Ganga’s banks and intend to return next year too,” said Madhukar, who is in his 40s.
As per tradition, kalpwasis give up comforts to lead an austere lifestyle for a month and camp along the banks of Ganga to gain salvation. Their period of penance comes to an end with the Hindu month of Magh. Kalpwasis, who had put up tents on Kali Marg, said they are taking back cheerful memories and stories to share with their family members.
One of the kalpwasis Ghanshyam (35) touched the feet of his elderly neighbour Dashrath before leaving the Magh Mela ground. “I assured him that we will meet again during next year’s Magh Mela. We didn’t just share our joys and problems, but also sat together to perform rituals and attended religious discourses. As we spent more time together, we started treated each other as extended family.”
“In the past one month, we developed special bonds with other devotees, despite the fact that they belonged to different districts and states,” said Mamta, a kalpwasi from Mirzapur.
“Most of us had tears in our eyes while leaving the Magh Mela ground,’ she added. The women among the kalpwasis claimed that spending month together makes people come closer, irrespective of age and class.
“When the weather was cold, we used to take care of each other. If a devotee fell ill, one of us would be tending to him/her round the clock,” said another kalpwasi.