Khoya-Paya, the real oomph of Kumbh

The Kumbh has a special planetary oomph of its own. The sheer size, the palpable fervour and enthusiasm in a dip - rather than any dip in enthusiasm - are the things to behold. But this giant party - for what is a party but a social, celebratory gathering - has a special feature: the 'khoya-paya' booths. On the ordinary plane, these lost-and-found booths are where lost visitors, especially children, who have been separated from their families or companions are reunited via loudspeakers. This year's Kumbh has digital tools like QR codes and Google location and social media assistance also pressed into service. That's fabulous.

But on the subliminal level - it is the Kumbh - the whole gathering is a giant khoya-paya venue of sorts. Souls that have lost their way, finding themselves. To see the pilgrimage as an exercise in finding what has been lost - or, like a pair of sandals or glasses, 'misplaced' - gives the whole event, the exercise, its sacred as well as spiritually practical purpose. So, when you set out to the ghat to take a dip in the Ganga, don't just remember to keep your belongings safely at a booth, but also to keep an eye on your existential concerns. Because at the Kumbh Mela, the 'lost-and-found' isn't just a booth, it's the very raison d'etre of you visiting. Finding yourself starts with losing yourself first with abandon.