South Bay Travels: Culture Shock And Preparing For Kumbh Mela

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Editor's Note: This story is part of an ongoing series detailing South Bay local Alison Clay-Duboff's travels to witness a Hindi pilgrimage. The post below was written by Clay-Duboff. To read more about her experiences, click here.

What a difference 72 hours can make. Ken has gone from wheelchairs to wielding a martini. However, in one day we will go into extreme culture shock. Massive never before experienced crowds, pure vegetarian diet, no alcohol and extreme sensory overload, not to mention I've not been in a tent since high school, let alone a tent in India!

As a counter balance we are indulging in life’s little luxuries here in Delhi; 4 handed massages in the very exotic spa, feasting on perfectly prepared holy cow and Pappardelle, cuddles in our comfortable bed, and people watching; the Hotel patrons mingle quietly, elegantly in the lobby and restaurants.This is old world India, with a strong lingering stamp of British Colonialism.

What we are really doing here in Delhi is "Pilgrimage" Olympic preparation.

The site of Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (now known as Prayagraj) covers roughly 15 square miles. Our tent site (glamping more accurately), comparatively is located near pontoons 18 and 19 close to the banks of the Ganga which is not adjacent to the main bathing events we will be witnessing (that’s good thing) therefore there will be a lot of walking. A lot of walking.

Today I’m striking out solo out into the big city. I'll be visiting RE/MAX India in Connaught Place and doing some shopping while Ken relaxes back at the Imperial.

A good deal of the training for the “Kumbh” I shall call it hence forward, is psychological. Imagine knowing you are going to the largest mosh pit in the universe. You have to outfit your imagination to an unimaginable sea of souls. Recent numbers for “Burning Man” was around 80,000 in the vast desert. We are talking 120 MILLION in Kumbh. Can anyone really wrap their minds around that amount of, humanness?

One amusing exercise is telling the local inquiring minds when asked why we are in India. Business? Pleasure they solicit. When we answer in complete and total earnestness that we are going to Kumbh Mela, their expressions always go thru the same exact arc.

First: head cocked with quizzical look - did they hear us correctly? What’s that you say mam?
Second: stunned amazement with wide eyes.
Lastly: attempted masking of shock mixed with a concerted effort to proffer a polite response.

We leave tomorrow. We fly to Varanasi and then drive into Prayagaj. The Kumbh suitcase has been ready for days, filled with Hershey's Kisses for children of Pilgrim friends we hope to meet, Milk Duds, cheese crisps for Ken and peanut butter pretzels for me (just in case). I wish my psyche was as easily and neatly packed.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m intrigued, excited and ready. At least I think I am.

Previous Columns In This Series:

• South Bay Travels: When Journey Gets Tough, Travelers Get Tougher
• South Bay Travels: India, The Back Story
• South Bay Travels: Kumbh Mela, The Unknown Journey

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Photos courtesy of Alison Clay-Duboff