Member of the ISKCON Communication team from Croatia, Govindananda das was the only ISKCON representative out of the 181 delegates from all the countries of the world attending the Prajagray 2019 Kumbha Mela.

Under the organization of Ministry of External Affairs Government of India and Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Prayagraj  hosted at least one person from every country at the occasion of the sacred Kumbh festival. Kumbha Mela is unique and world’s largest event in which hundreds of millions of spiritualists converge for a holy dip at the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. UNESCO has recognized this festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of the humanity.  

During the event held between 21st to 23rd February 2019, delegates from all over the world were astonished by the hospitality, organization and spiritual atmosphere that were present during the two days visit to India. After the amazing cultural and spiritual experience on Kumbha Mela, next day, delegates had special opportunity to meet Honorable Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs, Mrs Sushma Swaraj. The honorable hosts addressed the audience and stressed the unity in diversity that is seen in such events. 

Delegates from different countries expressed their appreciation for kindness and care of our hosts. People started to call each other brother and sister as unity grew among the attendants. Smiles on the faces of delegates from Croatia, Iran, Zambia, Israel, France, Iraq, Cook Islands, Saudi Arabia, Costar Rica, Ivory Coast, China, Spain, Brazil and all other countries gave us a feeling of human family like I never felt before. For two days it felt like Bharata Varsa again on some different level.

The delegates from 181 countries with Prime Minister Modi.

Journalists took the opportunity to interview delegates to get to know more about their relation with India. Here is an excerpt from the “Business Standard”, one of the largest Indian English-language daily edition newspaper published by Business Standard Ltd in two languages:

“Attracted by yoga, mesmerized by Kumbh: The lure of Indian culture” 

“… Reem Ibrahim Al-Arfaj is the first certified yoga trainer in Saudi Arabia. On her first visit to India this past week, she was left mesmerized by the Kumbh mela at Prayagraj.

Clad in a black burqa and a hijab, her excitement was palpable when IANS asked about her experience at the Kumbh.

“It was amazing. Everyone was smiling and they were excited to meet us. The security there was very high and we felt very safe among those people,” said Reem, who is in her 20s.

Among the delegates from 181 countries who were invited by the Indian government to visit the Kumbh and participate in the cultural activities there, she has completed 500 hours of yoga training for trainers under an expert at the Indian embassy in Riyadh last year.

She feels she is very good in aspects like yogic sukshma vyayam, shat kriya, surya namaskar, yogasana, pranayama and meditation.

“I am a businesswoman and help my father in his business. I heard about yoga and it attracted me. So I enrolled for this programme at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. Now I can train others in yoga,” she said with a glitter in her eyes.

Though Reem did not take a dip in the Ganga, Goran Pejakovic from Croatia not only took the holy dip but also recited the Gayatri mantra while he was in the river.

He has been practising Vaishnavism since 1991.

“I read Bhagavad Gita and since then I was attracted towards spirituality and Vaishnavism,” Goran said as he flaunted his ‘bodi’ (tuft) and the ‘janeo’.

Born in a Christian family, Goran finds no contradiction in the faith of his forefathers and his own “spiritual path”.

“They believe in one god and I also believe in one god and that is Krishna,” he added with a smile. His wife and daughter too are devotees of Lord Krishna and the family is vegetarian…” 

All participants really felt great human connection and hope for the spiritual unity. I consider it nice achievement for two days endeavor.