Kalpwasis begin arriving asMagh Mela starts from Jan 6

Prayagraj: With Magh Mela commencing from January 6 and devotees taking holy dip its first ritual bathing on Friday, scores of devotees known as Kalpwasis - who spend the month of Magh each year living a minimalistic life on the holy confluence, are flocking to the mela campus.
The Kaplwas- the period of their austerity, commences on Friday (January 6) with the festival of Paush Purnima. An estimated 20,000 Kalpwasis are expected to stay at sector 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the mela. These Kalpwasis believe that spending a whole month at the Sangam from January 6 to February 5, living in tents and listening to religious discourses, giving alms, participating in spiritual activities, eating only once a day and performing ritual baths daily free them of the cycle of birth, death and rebirth (moksha), and karma. Noted religious scholar, Amitabh Gour says that Kalpwasi spend a month minimalistic life on the banks of Ganga and when a kalpwasi observe 12 Kalpwas, he or she (Kalpwasi) has to donate all of bed belongings under a ritual known as “Shayya Daan”.
Every year, scores of kalpwasi arrive from different parts of the state and neighbouring districts to spend one month time on the banks of ganga to earn punya.
Gour, however, said “ the strength of middle aged kalpwasi often stay at the tents of their guru, are increasing every year who arrive from different parts of the country”.
Gour also claimed that many studies being conducted by various foreign and Indian universities as well as medical experts, have found that the Kalpwasis return home healthier and happier after their stay at the Sangam.
The study, the findings of which were also published in the prestigious international journals too stated that despite the tough living conditions, the cohesive bond between the fellow Kalpwasis helps make their stay comfortable.
ADM (Magh Mela) Vivek Chaturvedi told TOI, “Elaborate arrangements have been made for kalpwasi for their stay. Majority of kalwasi would arrive mela campus by Wednesday and we are ensuring that kalpwasis not face any inconvenience during their stay at mela campus. Kalpwasi will spend a month long period (from January 6 to February 5) on the banks of Ganga. Since kalpwasi prepare their meals through traditional method and consume food once in a day, the camps of prominent saints and seers have, in fact, developed the concept of traditional kitchen for them. Apart from earthen stoves, camps have also decided to provide cow dung cakes, and raw food materials to get the authentic food taste.
During the Kalpwas, devotees eat ‘satwik’ and nutritious food as it helps them to attain good health.