By SHYAM PATEL
NORWALK, CA - The Sanatana Hindu Sangha of California organized a traditional Kumbh Mela at the Excelsior Grounds here on Feb. 22. Community members attended the religious event including devotees from various organizations such as the Shree Pashupatinath Foundation, Jain Center of Southern California, and the Malibu Hindu Temple. The largest religious gathering in the world,
NORWALK, CA - The Sanatana Hindu Sangha of California organized a traditional Kumbh Mela at the Excelsior Grounds here on Feb. 22. Community members attended the religious event including devotees from various organizations such as the Shree Pashupatinath Foundation, Jain Center of Southern California, and the Malibu Hindu Temple. The largest religious gathering in the world,
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the Kumbh Mela in India, brings together devotees to discuss their faith and disseminate cultural topics about their religion. The Southern California disciples of Swami Nithyananda sought to recreate this auspicious event here, and the various centers affiliated to the Swami, also came in from around the country to participate. The main ritual performed at a kumbh mela is the spiritual bath, which involves submerging yourself in sacred waters to purify the soul of sin. In lieu of the traditional method, participants in Norwalk, brought forth deities from their respective temples to have dipped into a pool of blessed water. Sriman Narsimhacharya Cherukupally from theSri Panchamukha Hanuman Temple presided over the riutals, explaining it all in English for the attendees. Cherukupally sprinkled everyone gathered around the procession with the holy water so they could absorb the positive energy. After a ceremonial lamp lighting that illuminated all the deities on stage, a cultural program commenced. Emcees Rashmi Shah and Vasu Pawar held the program together which included bhajans and classical dances. Among the speakers were Swami Nikhilananda from Radha Govinda Dham, Sister Gita Patel from Brahma Kumaris and Sunil Tolani from the Sindhu Center. Among the lead organizers were Tolani, Madhur Shrivastav and Pannkaj Kummar. The traditional Ganga Aarti concluded the festivities for the night as dozens of wicks soaked in ghee and camphor were lit and symbolically offered to Goddess Ganga. Complimentary food and drinks, or prasad, was offered to all the devotees at the culmination of the program.
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