Deepak Kumar Sen’s book The Divine Kumbh will take readers on an intimate journey of the Kumbh Mela. The Kolkata Mail’s correspondent Priyanka Dutta interacted with the author in an exclusive chat about this new book. Excerpts..

How was the experience of writing this book?

Deepak Kumar Sen– The completion of “The Divine Kumbh” was an incredible experience for me, and only one line comes to my mind for this endeavor: ‘A dream come true’. Allahabad (now Prayagraj) is my hometown, and Kumbh city happens to be located just 200 meters from my house. So naturally, I have felt the deep waves of the Kumbh Mela in my heart since childhood.

What time did you take to compile this book?

Deepak Kumar Sen– The idea for this book first came to me in 2001 when I was covering the Prayag Maha Kumbh Mela as a journalist. After that, I began research and photography for the book in 2013, and in addition to Prayag, I also covered the Kumbh Mela in Ujjain, Haridwar, and Nashik. I then began work on my book in 2016 and completed it in 2023.

Did you go to the Kumbh Mela this year?

 Deepak Kumar Sen– Yes, I went to the Prayag Kumbh Mela and returned home on February 15. In my point of view, this Kumbh Mela will always be remembered for miss governance, poor management, and irresponsible policing.

According to you, how has the Kumbh Mela changed over the years?

Deepak Kumar Sen– The Kumbh Mela is turning into a political event, and the VVIP culture has increased. No Mela Minister has been appointed for the Ardh Kumbh 2019 and the Kumbh 2025 in Prayag. In 2018, a circular from the Uttar Pradesh government stated that the Ardh Kumbh will be called Kumbh and the Kumbh will be called Maha Kumbh. A festival of religion, faith, and spirituality like the Kumbh should not be allowed to become a government event. Maha Kumbh is organized in Prayag every 144 years, and it was last held in 2001.

How has the Kumbh Mela affected you spiritually?

Deepak Kumar Sen– Ramakrishna Mission, ISKCON, ParmarthNiketan, Swaminarayan, the Akharas, and all four Shankaracharyas are in one place. On the occasion of the Kumbh, spirituality within a person gains a new dimension, and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to read spiritual books and meet saints. It awakened spirituality in me to some extent.

What challenges if any did you face while writing this book?

Deepak Kumar Sen–  I faced difficulty while writing the chapter on Moksha and Kumbh because many philosophers have written about it. Writing this chapter was quite challenging and took a lot of time. To take the photos for my book, I had to stand in knee-deep water in the cold of January, and staying awake for two nights during each royal bath was extremely challenging.

What will be the topic of your next book?

Deepak Kumar Sen– Yes, I am working on a book featuring interviews with top-level classical maestros, writers, singers, actors, and others.