Maha Kumbh Mela – The Commune https://thecommunemag.com Mainstreaming Alternate Mon, 20 Jan 2025 12:19:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://thecommunemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-TC_SF-1-32x32.jpg Maha Kumbh Mela – The Commune https://thecommunemag.com 32 32 DMK Govt Removes Maha Kumbh Mela Banner Glorifying Sanatana Dharma Amid Backlash From Dravidianist Groups https://thecommunemag.com/dmk-govt-removes-maha-kumbh-mela-banner-glorifying-sanatana-dharma-amid-backlash-from-dravidianist-groups/ Mon, 20 Jan 2025 07:16:10 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=105218 The Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to remove banners displaying advertisements for the “Maha Kumbh Mela” after facing strong backlash from Dravidianist groups. The banners, which promoted the Uttar Pradesh government’s event featuring Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, carried the message: “The beauty of Sanātana, the glory of Maha Kumbh Mela. […]

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The Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to remove banners displaying advertisements for the “Maha Kumbh Mela” after facing strong backlash from Dravidianist groups. The banners, which promoted the Uttar Pradesh government’s event featuring Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, carried the message: “The beauty of Sanātana, the glory of Maha Kumbh Mela. Celebrate the wonderful culture of human society.” The Dravidianist and Periyarists deemed these advertisements unacceptable, prompting the government to take down the banners.

The controversy sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many accusing the ruling DMK of being consistently opposed to Sanātana Dharma. DMK Chief Minister MK Stalin has expressed such views publicly on multiple occasions, and his son, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, further escalated the situation by organizing an “Eradicating Sanātana Conference.” In response to the banners celebrating the Maha Kumbh Mela, netizens targeted the ruling DMK, accusing them of aligning with the BJP and helping their narratives in the state.

In this context, the DMK’s unofficial mouthpiece and Dravidian propaganda handle ‘YouTurn,’ has defended the government’s decision in removing the banners. They placed the blame on the previous AIADMK government, claiming it was their responsibility. However, netizens quickly criticized this, pointing out that the current government has been in power for three years and questioning how they could continue to blame their predecessors.

In a post on social media platform X, YouTurn stated, “The advertisement about Sanātana has been removed. During the last AIADMK regime, private companies were given contracts to purchase advertisements and publish them in cinema halls. There is no government involvement in such advertisements. However, these advertisements have been removed after controversy.”

Some of the criticisms expressed are outlined below.

https://twitter.com/SensThamizh/status/1880916997200109631

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]]> BBC Once Again Exposes Its Colonial Hypocrisy: Mocks Anything Hindu While Glorifying Western Nudity https://thecommunemag.com/bbc-once-again-exposes-its-colonial-hypocrisy-mocks-anything-hindu-while-glorifying-western-nudity/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:05:40 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=104775 The BBC, once a bastion of so-called “impartial journalism,” has once again revealed its true colors: a colonial mouthpiece that mocks and exoticizes non-Western cultures while glorifying Western narratives. Its coverage of the Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering on Earth, is a glaring example of this hypocrisy. The title of the article published […]

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The BBC, once a bastion of so-called “impartial journalism,” has once again revealed its true colors: a colonial mouthpiece that mocks and exoticizes non-Western cultures while glorifying Western narratives. Its coverage of the Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering on Earth, is a glaring example of this hypocrisy. The title of the article published on 13 January 2025 read, “Naked ash-smeared ascetics to lead India bathing spectacle”. However, after backlash, they have edited it as “Ash-smeared holy men lead India bathing spectacle”

Compare this to its coverage and silence on the nudity at the Toronto Gay Pride Parade, and the double standards are impossible to ignore. The BBC’s biased reporting is not just journalistic malpractice—it’s an insult to Hindus and Indians worldwide.

The Toronto Gay Pride Parade: Selective Dignity

In 2022, the Toronto Gay Pride Parade featured participants marching naked, flaunting their bodies in the name of “freedom” and “self-expression.” While various media outlets covered this event, the BBC chose to gloss over the nudity, instead framing it as a celebration of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity. The headlines were sanitized, the tone was reverent, and the narrative was carefully crafted to align with Western progressive values.

When Westerners parade naked, it’s “brave” and “empowering.” But when Hindu Sadhus, who have renounced clothing as part of their centuries-old spiritual practice, are depicted in the same state, the BBC reduces them to a freak show. The hypocrisy is staggering. Their Hinduphobia is blatantly exposed.

The Maha Kumbh Mela: A Sacred Tradition Reduced To A Spectacle

The Maha Kumbh Mela is not just a religious event; it is a profound spiritual experience for millions of Hindus. It is a gathering of faith, devotion, and cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years. Sadhus, who have renounced material possessions—including clothing—as a symbol of their detachment from worldly desires, are an integral part of this tradition. Their nudity is not a gimmick; it is a sacred act of renunciation and devotion.

But the BBC didn’t see it that way. Instead, their article screamed: “Ash-smeared naked Hindu holy men charged into India’s most sacred river Ganges at dawn on the first most significant bathing day of the Kumbh Mela festival (also known as Mahakumbh) in the northern city of Prayagraj.” The language is deliberate: “charged,” “ash-smeared,” “naked.” It’s sensational, demeaning, and designed to provoke a reaction of shock and disgust. The BBC didn’t bother to explain the spiritual significance of the Sadhus’ practices or the cultural context of the Kumbh Mela. Instead, they reduced one of the holiest events in Hinduism to a circus act.

This is cultural imperialism. It’s the same colonial mindset that once painted entire civilizations as “exotic” and “backward,” worthy of ridicule but not respect.

The Double Standards: Nudity For Thee, But Not For Me

The BBC’s double standards are impossible to ignore. When Westerners march naked in the name of “freedom,” it’s celebrated as a bold statement of identity. But when Hindu Sadhus practice nudity as part of their spiritual tradition, it’s framed as something primitive and bizarre. This isn’t just hypocrisy; it’s racism. It’s the same colonial gaze that has long dehumanized non-Western cultures, reducing them to caricatures for Western consumption.

Geeta Pandey: The Brown Sepoy Serving Her Colonial Masters

And who is at the forefront of this colonial narrative? None other than Geeta Pandey, the BBC’s India correspondent, who has made a career out of pandering to her Western employers by distorting and demeaning Indian culture. Pandey has consistently framed Hindu traditions through a colonial lens, reducing them to sensationalist clickbait for a Western audience. Her reporting on the Maha Kumbh Mela is a prime example of this. Instead of highlighting the spiritual significance of the event, she chose to focus on the nudity of the Sadhus, framing it in a way that was both disrespectful and dehumanizing.

Pandey is the archetype of the “brown sepoy” who are traitors to their own culture to serve their colonial masters. She is not a journalist; she is a propagandist, faithfully carrying out the BBC’s agenda of cultural imperialism. Her work is a betrayal of her heritage and an insult to the millions of Hindus who hold the Kumbh Mela sacred. She is a reminder that colonialism didn’t end; it just found new foot soldiers.

The BBC’s Colonial Legacy: Alive and Well

The BBC’s coverage of the Maha Kumbh Mela is a stark reminder that colonialism never really ended. It just evolved. The colonial mindset—the belief that Western cultures are superior and non-Western traditions are primitive—is alive and well in the halls of the BBC. Their reporting on Hinduism is not just biased; it’s an act of cultural violence. It strips Hinduism of its dignity, reduces its sacred practices to sensational headlines, and reinforces the idea that non-Western cultures are inferior.

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]]> Bloomberg Suffers Meltdown Over Mahakumbh https://thecommunemag.com/bloomberg-suffers-meltdown-over-mahakumbh/ Mon, 13 Jan 2025 05:11:13 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=104519 The 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, heralded as the largest gathering on Earth, began early Monday with the observance of Paush Purnima. An estimated 15 million devotees are anticipated to take a holy dip at the Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, all while being surrounded by robust security […]

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The 45-day Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, heralded as the largest gathering on Earth, began early Monday with the observance of Paush Purnima. An estimated 15 million devotees are anticipated to take a holy dip at the Sangam, the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, all while being surrounded by robust security arrangements.

However, in a baffling display of cultural insensitivity and thinly veiled bias as well as severe meltdown, Bloomberg’s coverage of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 reads more like a rant against India’s rich traditions than a balanced report on the world’s largest gathering. While the event attracts millions of devotees, creating an awe-inspiring testament to faith, logistics, and human resilience, Bloomberg seems intent on reducing it to a political weapon wielded by the ruling party.

Ignoring The Essence Of The Kumbh

The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years, is not just a religious event but a global spectacle of devotion, culture, and humanity. It represents a confluence of spirituality and tradition, uniting millions across diverse backgrounds. Yet, Bloomberg chose to focus disproportionately on alleged political motivations and administrative shortcomings, brushing aside the event’s profound cultural and spiritual significance.

Rather than celebrating the mammoth efforts behind organizing such an event — a temporary city spread across 10,000 acres with infrastructure rivaling permanent urban centers — the report fixates on political narratives, sowing division where unity is being celebrated.

The “Hindu Nationalist” Alarm Bell

Bloomberg’s favorite buzzword, “Hindu nationalist,” is wielded with reckless abandon. The report frames every aspect of the Kumbh Mela as a calculated move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to push a political agenda. The rich traditions of the event, rooted in millennia of history, are almost entirely overshadowed by insinuations about vote-bank politics and “Hindu right” posturing.

This reductionist narrative is not just unfair; it’s lazy journalism. The Maha Kumbh Mela has been a cornerstone of Hindu spirituality for centuries, predating modern political ideologies by millennia. To suggest that its grandeur and significance are mere tools for political gain is an insult to the millions of devotees who gather in faith.

Infrastructure Marvel? Not Worth Mentioning, Apparently

While Bloomberg begrudgingly acknowledges the logistical effort — temporary bridges, hospitals, roads, sanitation for millions, and AI-enabled technology for crowd management — the tone drips with condescension. The very challenges the report harps on, such as sanitation and public health, are being met with innovative solutions like 150,000 toilets, AI-driven crowd surveillance, and waste management technologies. Yet, the achievements are dismissed or overshadowed by doom-laden predictions of disaster.

Politicizing Faith

Bloomberg claims the event is a platform for the BJP to push its agenda, citing the renaming of Allahabad to Prayagraj and opposition to non-Hindu food vendors. These claims, while dramatic, ignore the broader context. Renaming Prayagraj was part of a larger effort to restore historical and cultural identities, not a sinister plot. Similarly, the focus on certain controversies overrules the reality of a festival that remains inclusive and welcoming to millions, regardless of faith or nationality.

Stoking Fear Instead Of Appreciating Arrangements

The paragraph, “One big challenge looms over the event — dealing with the sheer volume of human waste generated by such a gathering. The Ganges is already known for its heavy pollution levels, and past festivals have turned into a breeding ground for disease due to inadequate waste-disposal measures. Officials have said 150,000 toilets have been dispatched to the event, while technology from India’s space and nuclear research agencies is reportedly being deployed to help cope with the volumes of sewage. Prior events haven’t been without mishaps and disasters. Deadly stampedes have occurred on numerous occasions: In 1954, a stampede resulting in the death of large numbers of pilgrims on the event’s main bathing day, while a 2013 stampede at a train station killed dozens. Public health experts said the 2021 Kumbh Mela became a “super spreader” event for Covid-19.“, reeks of bias and comparing events that happened in the past.

The 1954 UP government was led by Dr Sampoornanand of the Indian National Congress, and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party led the 2013 government.

Bloomberg’s portrayal of the challenges faced by the Maha Kumbh Mela reeks of sensationalism designed to instill fear rather than provide balanced reporting. While managing human waste and ensuring public safety are undoubtedly significant tasks for any event of this magnitude, the report blows these issues out of proportion, painting an overly grim picture. The mention of past mishaps and disasters, some dating back decades, serves no purpose other than to amplify a narrative of chaos. It conveniently ignores the strides made in logistics, technology, and sanitation, such as deploying cutting-edge systems and an unprecedented number of toilets to handle waste effectively. Instead of acknowledging the government’s proactive measures, Bloomberg appears to stoke anxiety and cast doubt on the event’s success.

A Global Celebration, Not A “Political Circus”

Bloomberg fails to acknowledge the people in power while comparing to earlier “mishaps“. It unnecessarily compares 2013-era ads to the present. “The 2013 Kumbh Mela was an advertising bonanza, with brands finding creative ways to pitch their products to Indians on tight budgets, with cheap glasses of Coca-Cola for sale alongside rotis stamped with advertisements for soap.” Sentences like these reek of ignorance.

It also says, “Indian advertising agency Shreyas Media, which won advertising rights for the event, said it expects Indian companies to spend 30 billion rupees ($349 million) at the Kumbh Mela. The company said it’s selling advertising to companies on billboards, charging stations, sky balloons, and other platforms.”

Yes, the Kumbh Mela is a revenue generator for the government, and why not? The 2019 Kumbh generated ₹1.2 lakh crore as revenue for the state government, while the 2013 one generated ₹12,000 crore. And what is wrong with that?

The Maha Kumbh Mela is not merely an Indian event; it is a global phenomenon. Pilgrims from all walks of life — rich and poor, Indian and international — come together for an unparalleled spiritual experience. It is a testament to the resilience of human faith and the power of collective effort. By failing to recognize this, Bloomberg reveals its inability to see beyond narrow political lenses.

Bloomberg’s coverage of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is a stark reminder of the pitfalls of parachute journalism. Instead of celebrating the event’s scale, faith, and logistical brilliance, it opts for a reductive, politically charged narrative that disrespects the millions who hold the Kumbh sacred.

Perhaps Bloomberg should take a step back, dip into the sacred waters of the Sangam, and cleanse its reporting of bias and cynicism. The Maha Kumbh Mela deserves better than being a pawn in the publication’s agenda-driven storytelling.

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]]> Muslim Cleric Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi Claims Prayagraj Kumbh Mela Site Is Waqf Property https://thecommunemag.com/muslim-cleric-shahabuddin-razvi-barelvi-claims-prayagraj-kumbh-mela-site-is-waqf-property/ Wed, 08 Jan 2025 04:52:26 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=103849 Just one week before the Maha Kumbh Mela begins in Prayagraj, a controversy has arisen following claims by a Muslim cleric that the event is being held on land owned by the Waqf Board. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the president of the All India Muslim Jamat, has asserted that 55 bighas of Waqf land are […]

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Just one week before the Maha Kumbh Mela begins in Prayagraj, a controversy has arisen following claims by a Muslim cleric that the event is being held on land owned by the Waqf Board. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the president of the All India Muslim Jamat, has asserted that 55 bighas of Waqf land are being utilized for the Hindu religious gathering.

In a video message, Barelvi acknowledged the generosity of the Muslim community in Prayagraj, who, he said, had allowed the Kumbh Mela to take place on Waqf land. He called on Hindus to reciprocate by permitting Muslims to enter the Kumbh Mela. He also criticized the All India Akhara Parishad’s demand to restrict entry to non-Hindus at the event.

Barelvi remarked, “The Akhara Parishad, Naga Sanyasis, swamis, and babas have called for banning Muslims from the Kumbh Mela. On the other hand, a Muslim named Sartaz from Prayagraj has pointed out that the land used for Kumbh preparations belongs to the Waqf, and it is owned by local Muslims. Yet, despite this, Muslims have shown great tolerance by not objecting to the 55 bighas of Waqf land being used for the Mela.” He further stated that while Muslims have demonstrated tolerance, some Hindu groups are showing intolerance by denying Muslims entry into the Kumbh Mela.

Additionally, there are local Muslim claims that the K.C. Pant Institute in Prayagraj, where the Kumbh Archive Center has been established, is also Waqf property.

Maulana Barelvi’s comments, however, have drawn strong criticism from BJP leaders. Union Minister Giriraj Singh condemned the remarks, calling them an attempt to provoke Hindus and incite communal tensions. He emphasized that the Kumbh Mela predates the birth of Islam and is a deeply respected cultural and religious tradition. “Such statements are aimed at provoking Hindus,” Singh said, also questioning the silence of political leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Uddhav Thackeray, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Akhilesh Yadav, implying that their silence might suggest an endorsement of such divisive comments.

Singh accused radical elements of distorting historical and cultural facts to disrupt India’s harmony. “The Kumbh Mela is not just a religious event; it is a cultural heritage of India, respected around the world,” he added.

BJP leader Amit Malviya also shared the video of Barelvi’s comments on social media, criticizing the cleric’s statements and suggesting that the Waqf law had become a growing problem.

Hindu leaders have rejected Barelvi’s claims. Hindu Mahasabha President Swami Chakrapani Maharaj strongly condemned the cleric, stating that Barelvi must be backed by forces like Pakistan and others with a “terrorist mindset.” He accused the cleric of attempting to disrupt the Maha Kumbh and called for an investigation into his remarks. “Immediate action should be taken against people who spread such divisive rhetoric. An FIR should be lodged, and they should be arrested to maintain peace,” he said.

The Maha Kumbh, a massive religious event of Hindus, attracts millions of devotees from around the world. This year, it is taking place after 12 years, and the main bathing rituals, known as Shahi Snan (royal baths), will occur on 14  January (Makar Sankranti), 29 January (Mauni Amavasya), and 3 February (Basant Panchami). The Kumbh area is divided into 25 sectors, with 14 of them located in Jhunsi, approximately 9 kilometers from the city of Prayagraj.

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