My Journey Begins
My experience at the 1977 Kumbh Mela (see the earlier stories “Just Around the Corner” and “The Barber”) was so moving for me that I decided at that time to attend the next four Kumbhs over the next twelve years — Insha Allah! (God Willing).
Three years later, just before leaving for Ujjain, where the next Kumbh Mela was being held, I had second thoughts. I did not know anyone in Ujjain. Would I be able to have a peak experience like the one I had in Allahabad? Would the trip be worth the expense? What was I truly going for?
I shared these apprehensions with DeAnn, my secretary. She urged me gently to listen to my inner voice rather than my practical reasoning or rationalization. So, the journey began. I would fly to New Delhi, then to Bhopal and on to the Kumbh Mela in Ujjain.
To “set the stage,” I will first share some background:
History of the Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela is one of India’s most ancient Hindu festivals and pilgrimages, originating nearly 3,000 years ago. The 40-day festival is held every 12 years in a three-year cycle, alternating in the cities of Nasik, Ujjain, Allahabad and Haridwar. According to Hindu mythology, these cities, located along the banks of four different rivers, are believed to be the locations where angels once hid pots of amrit, a magical nectar with the power of immortality. Millions of spiritual pilgrims flock to the Melas to meditate, visit temples, attend lectures by spiritual leaders, and to immerse themselves for purification in the rivers’ holy waters.
The City of Ujjain
Located on the banks of the Shipra River, the city of Ujjain is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of India’s most ancient cities and is known for its many temples. Perhaps the most famous temple is Mahakaleshwar, which is the center for the calculation of time in India, much the same as Greenwich, England, is the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the west. The Kumbh Mela in Ujjain is also known as Simhastha.
Ujjain via Bhopal
Upon arrival in New Delhi on April 16, 1980, I learned that all transportation was heavily booked because of the Kumbh Mela. I was 24th on the waiting list of the Indian Airlines flight to Bhopal. I called one of my cousins, who was head of a large travel agency. He helped me make arrangements, and the next day I was on my way to Bhopal.
In Bhopal I stayed with Vimal, a college classmate and also visited another college friend, Acharya.
Vimal fretted about my going to Ujjain.
“It’s too hot,” he said. “How will you get there? Transportation is jammed. Where will you stay?”
I showed him a letter of introduction to Mr. B. K. Sethi that I had been given by a friend. Arrangements had been made for me. Vimal looked relieved and indicated that Mr. Sethi was perhaps the most influential man in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The next morning, my friend Acharya took me to meet his boss, Munish. Munish and his family were planning to go to the Mela that afternoon at 4 p.m. and offered me a ride. I was on my way!
balbirmathur.com 
The opening is intriguing, but I don’t see on the site how to continue the story.
The stories are listed in order in the websites “table of contents”. You can view all the posted stories here: https://balbirmathur.com/376-2/. New stories will be added to the end of this list of stories each week.