Tale of two Shiva temples

During my visit to the Bhojeshwar temple in Bhojpur about 40 kilometers away from Bhopal in 2001 I realized that the Shivling at this temple so resembled the one at Thanjavur’s Brihadeeswara temple, which is also is earmarked as a World Heritage site. So I met a couple of ASI officials though they were left astounded by the revelation, and later went through numerous books on these two temple to finally find out how the then Raja Bhoj, King of Dhar had hit upon the idea after finding that Raja Raja Chola had send a large number of men on elephants to get huge hillocks all the way from river Narmada, to the temple town of India to build the Shivalinga for the Brihadeeswara temple. After that the story which I wrote appeared in the all India edition of the Hindustan Times in March 2, 2002.

ANU MALIK and members of his ilk can take heart. Copying ideas from the South has its roots even in ancient history. At least since a 1,000 years, if not more. The Shiva temples of Bhojpur and Thanjavur, if not carbon copies, have many things in common. And the antiquity of the Thanjavur temples makes it a logical predecessor of its Bhojpur counterpart.
Built by Raja Raja Chola in 910 AD, the Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur, seems to have the natural inspiration for the Bhojeshwar temple. Built by Raja Bhoj, the legendary King of Dhar in 1010-53 AD, the outer structure of the Bhojpur Shiv-ling was never completed. The one in Thanjavur, however, stands a majestic testament to the glory of Cholan architecture. Both are single-rock structures and boast of being the tallest among Shiv-lings anywhere in India. And thus the debate as to which is the bigger one. According to master craftsman S Devasenapathy Sathpathy at Swamimalai (the seventh generation of Sathpathies employed by Raja Raja Chola to build the Big Temple), the Shiv-ling at Thanjavur is the tallest in the world. A Quick measure, however, reveals a different tale.

To begin with, the height of the Thanjavur Shiv-ling is 13 feet. Taken with its five feet base, the monolith totals 18 feet. The Bhojpur Shiv-ling stands at 20.65 feet, with a base of 12.99 feet high and thus wins hands down on the tall count. However, in width the Bhojpur icon measures 52 feet, while the Thanjavur one is 54 feet. While the Thanjavur Shiv-ling is made of black ston, the Bhojpur one is of red polished stone. Residents can treasure the association preserved by the Thanjavur Shiv-ling, the rock for which went down all the way to South from the Narmada river.
For S Devasenapathy Sathpathy a Shiv-ling at Bhojpur similar to the one in Thanjavur is a revelation. But he says the “the idea could have been taken form Raja Raja Chola, when the black stone for the Thanjavur temple was being ferried to the South from the Narmada before the year 910 AD.”
Maybe the ASIs at Bhopal and Thanjavur could clear the air by telling the real tale of the two temples, built 143 years apart and , linked by more than one common bonds.

Quick Gun Ramanna

From the Asiad to school championship's his steady trigger finger has launched a thousand races. As one of the nation's oldest and most respected starters at athletic events, Ramanna has devised his own unique pistol for the purpose.

This story so happened when I went to cove the Inter School athletic meet at the Kanteerva stadium when I saw an old friend Ramanna sir, (as he was known to us in 1980 - 85 when I used to take part in the Inter school Athletic meets), to my surprise Ramanna sir was there after a gap of more than 23 years, still firing away his pistol at the starting point. This time he had a modernized pistol which he had designed himself which he does always. So I quickly walked up to him wished him and he at once recognized me to my luck. I quickly asked him if I could write about him and his passion for making pistol used for starting any race, to which he obliged and below is the story which was published in the Bangalore Mirror edition on July 3rd, 2008.

GET SET, READY, GO RAMANNA
His is a life as an aperitif. Unobtrusive, not quite the main course but the mandatory shot required to set things into motion. That about sums up A Ramanna’s life, as a starter at athletic events across the country. A vocation requiring a split second of work, but a critical second at that.
For, can any of the athletes sprint across without Ramanna’s boom. A starter is the person who sounds the gun-shot at athletic events, the boom sounding the go-ahead for runners poised in their on-your-mark positions. And Ramanna has been doing this for a livelihood for decades now, since 1978.

70 year old Ramanna the Race Starter fires to start yet another race in the Inter school meet in Bangalore on Wednesday 2nd July 2008. Ramanna fires from his own patented pistol which has two triggers, one for starting the race and the other to recall the runner in case of a foul start. He also trains youngesters who are intrested in becoming starters.

The septuagenarian has grown so fond of his job of 30 years, that he has now designed his own pistol or starting gun. “I have collected sulphur from crackers, made pellets of them and designed a contraption that holds this in place, like a pistol. But this can be used only for sports, it only makes the right sound and emits some smoke but is not dangerous at all” explains Ramanna.

LABOUR OF LOVE
Surprisingly, the man, who has been with the Karnataka State Athletic Association, has thus far not received a single gun for this rather important shot. This prompted him to design his own pistols and distribute them free to sundry starters across the country. “I have not received any encouragement from the Association but I’m doing this for myself because I love this job. When there is an athletic meet, I just get some remuneration “says Ramanna, who according to the rolls of the Association is called a Technical Official.
Name any major athletic meet in any part of the country and he’s been there, right from the Asiad at New Delhi in 1982 to the recent Inter National athletic meet in Bangalore. He has stepped out of India once to Sri Lanka for a sporting event. The 70-year old has designed some 15 pistols or starter guns so far, all with his own money.

A PERFECTIONIST
When he’s not attending athletic meets, he meticulously collects information on the right kind of starter pistol that can go off without any hitch. As some other officials at the Kantreeva stadium recall, there have been days when a gong or some other gun had to be used for the purpose when athletes would literally be waiting with bated breath. “The latest one I have designed has two triggers, one for the actual shot and another for recalling, if an anxious runner starts before the signal is sounded,” says Ramanna.
Smoking barrels, doesn’t the Athletic Association really think he doesn’t deserve a thing for wielding a megaphone and sounding a start?
Says Satyanarayana, secretary of the KSAA, “Ramanna retired from HAL and whenever he is the starter at a meet, he gets Rs 1000 a day. There are lots of people like him who work as starters simply for the work enjoyment ad the sense of involvement.

Redskins Shake for Red Royal Challengers of Bangalore

The first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw some of the cheerleaders from USA in various city's in the country cheering for their team and also ensuring that the cricket crazy fans of the country got a look at what all cheer leading is all about. The Vijay Mallya owned Royal Challengers of Bangalore roped in the NFL Redskins from the Washington to dance and cheer the red from toe to head team through out the month long cricket gala.
The Redskins came a swiped away the crowd and also their cricket team. At the end of the month long event the owner of the team Vijay Mallya was left red faced from his red team’s performance ending up as the second best team from the bottom. It was all red every where and that’s why in all probability VM as he is known in Bangalore circles choose to bring down another US Varsity cheer leading team the ‘White Mischief’ this time around in the ongoing second edition of the IPL. But with three games gone for the men in red have managed to win only one so far, looks like VM will have to look for another team in the third edition too.
Anyway that is far fetched as of now. Take a back seat to have a close look at some of the pictures taken by me of the redskins during the first edition of the IPL in Bangalore.

BACK GROUND OF REDSKINS

First Ladies of Football
From the Redskinettes to the First Ladies of Football, the Redskins Cheerleaders are the longest running cheerleading team in the NFL. Founded in 1962, and originally named the Redskinettes, this team has brought worldwide recognition to the Washington, D.C. area, the Redskins football team, and the NFL.

The Redskins Cheerleaders team for the Bangalore Royal Challengers pose exclusively for the Mumbai Mirror and the Bangalore Mirror editions.

Partnered with the largest and most prominent Alumni Association among cheer leading teams--in 2008 over 1,000 strong--the women who have cheered and continued to support the Redskins have also helped raise millions since the team’s inception and support more charities and community events every year.
In the most powerful city in the world, the most popular professional sports team is only a part of FedEx Field. The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders are growing across the country and around the world. They are lighting up the airwaves and the media with new routines, uniforms, attitudes and have raised the bar of excellence for every other NFL cheer leading squad.

The Redskins Cheerleaders team for the Bangalore Royal Challengers along with their Director and Choreographer pose exclusively for the Mumbai Mirror and the Bangalore Mirror editions.

Adorned in burgundy and gold, flanking the field on every side and executing routines that would make even the fastest football player gasp for air, these ladies strive for one thing--to make a difference.

The Legacy
The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders are the oldest active cheer leading organization in the NFL. On September 30, 1962, 30 talented and beautiful women made their debut as the Redskinettes. As they marched down the field in their Native American costumes to join the band, they stepped into history and the tradition began. In their 45-year history, these ladies have become the most talented, innovative and personable in the NFL.

The Redskins practice at the Chinnaswamy stadium grounds the home to the Bangalore Royal Challengers. These cheerleaders spend hours training and stretching so that they stay in shape and perform at their best at any given point of time.

In the early 1980s, the Redskins Cheerleaders toured China to promote American-made products; toured Turkey, Italy, Sicily, Spain and France as part of the USO; filmed TV commercials for Sassoon and Barbara Ellen; were featured on the David Letterman’s Top 10 list and won the ESPN celebrity pool tournament. They have been featured in National magazines such as Newsweek, FHM, Ebony, Black Hair Magazine, Salon One, Cosmopolitan, Maxim and Sports Illustrated; performed with Country Grammy award winner Gretchen Wilson, Latin sensation Ricky Martin, Larry King, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, the Pointer Sisters and Nancy Reagan; and filmed two E! Channel specials, are the stars of Comcast SportsNet show “Beauties on the Beach”, Are the Champions from the battle of the NFL Cheerleaders at the 2007 Super Bowl and were featured on the NFL Networks Cheerleader Challenge. Men’s Journal called the 2007 squad the Best in the NFL and Michael Strahan wrote in his book that the Redskins Cheerleaders are the Hottest in the NFL.

The Redskins perform for the Bangalore Royal Challenger fans before the start of the match between the Rajastan Royals who eventually became the IPL inaugural winners.

Who is interested in the match: The Bangalore Royal Challenger fans taking a close look at the Redskins performing even as Cricket takes a back seat. At the end of the nights match the fans went home with red cheeked and goose pimples on their face after watching the redskins performing with their eyes wide opened without an wink for more than 5 hours.
With their international appeal and stardom on the rise, the First Ladies of Football have transformed into the NFL cheerleaders of the millennium by breaking new ground with their sleek new style and amazing talents. From the simple, yet very visible redesign of the uniform, to the rejuvenated commitment to charity and community, these ladies have established themselves as the premier squad in the NFL.

THE INDIVIDUALS OF REDSKINS

Jenny sports the Redskins ring and is also one of the key members of the Redskins Cheerleaders team. Jenny is a mother of two children and fell in love with India during her month long stay.

Klohver one of the key members of the Redskins Cheerleaders team for the Bangalore Royal Challengers. She is a lawyer by profession.

Barbra (left) and Sooin (right) are key members of the Redskins Cheerleaders team for the Bangalore Royal Challengers. They are the main ones according to their team leader who make the best moves.

IF FANS CAN HAVE FUN I TOO CAN FROM A CLOSER RANGE: Rajastan Royals Player Shane Watson looks at the Redskins cheerleaders perform to the cheering crowd at the inaugural DLF - IPL match between the Bangalore Royal Challengers at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Saturday 26th April 2008.

Dhoni Stumps Cop

This story just so happened that I was covering the IPL match between the Bangalore Royal Challengers and the Chennai Super Kings that at the end of the game Shivamani along with his troupe ran into the ground and a police constable in mufti tried to stop him than a spat happened between the Indian cricket team captain M S Dhoni and the cop. I quickly started to freeze them in my camera. The next day when I tried to ask DCP B N S Reddy who is a good friendof mine, told me how Dhoni apologized and also gifted a batting gloves to the cop later. This was a great story and I thanked Reddy and requested him to put me onto the constable which he readly obliged, later I thanked him for the great IPL story he had given me and my co-writer Niranjan.

At the IPL match between the Chennai Super Kings and Bangalore Royal Challengers, the Indian and Chennai skipper M S Dhoni was bowled over by a constable’s sincerity and sense of duty.

All the melodrama will be etched in his memory for a long time to come. And there is the memento too that constable Shivakumar will cherish for ever, First an altercation with none other that Indian cricket Captain Mahender Singh Dhoni and, then, as the marquee cricketer realized that Shivakumar was just doing his duty the profuse apologies followed by the spontaneous gifting away of his batting gloves, still drenched in sweat and with his initials on it, to the dumb-struck cop.

Constable Shivakumar stops Shivamani and his troupe from setting up the drums in the center of the field soon after the Chennai Super kings beat the Bangalore Royal Challengers.

As one of the security men on duty during a IPL match between the Royal Challengers and the Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy stadium, scarcely could Shivkumar have expected all this to happen. The whole incident spanning less than a minute became a memorable experience for Shivakumar, a constable at the Special Branch of Cubbon Park police station. As soon as Royal Challengers’ Praveen Kumar was declared run out, the ecstatic cheerleading team of Chennai Super kings led by ace drummer Shivamani rushed on to the field with drums in their hands.

Chennai Super Kings Captain M S Dhoni argues with constable Shivakumar even as Shivamani sets up his drums at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore during the IPL match.

DOING HIS DUTY
Perturbed over this apparent breach of security, Shivakumar, who was on duty in mufti, alerted the other officials and tried blocking Shivamani and his men from rushing on to the field. Angry over this and not really aware of his identity, Dhoni picked up a verbal altercation with Shivakumar that led to a few tense moments on the field. But, when the DCP (Central) B N S reddy intervened and revealed to Dhoni who Shivakumar was, the Indian captain regained his normal cool.
Explaining the situation to Bangalore Mirror, Reddy said, “while cordoning off the area for prize distribution, the constable only did his duty and followed orders. He could not distinguish between Shivamani and others. I and Dhoni might know Shivamani but what about the constable? He was scared about three to four persons running on to the field. As per the rules, no one other than the players and umpires is allowed to enter the field. When all others were rushing on to the field, how can he keep away from discharging his duty? ”

Chennai Super Kings and Indian Cricket captain M S Dhoni asks the constable Shivakumar to keep away from Shivamani and pushes him aside.

The police sources said that the officials were initially scared thinking that there might be explosives hidden inside the drums. Moreover, the intruders had no right to be on the field. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Shivakumar said, "Dhoni came to me from the back and mistook for a commoner. Without knowing me as part of the security, he started arguing with me. When I showed him my ID card he was ok. Also the DCP intervened and helped in settling the issue. I am a big fan of Shivamani and I knew him, but I was afraid about others running in along with him."

Constable Shivakumar being asked by a official of the Chennai Super Kings to leave the ground even as DCP B N S Reddy explains the who Shivakumar is to Indian and Super Kings captain M S Dhoni.

MAHI GIFTS HIS GLOVES
That was not the end of story. The DCP said “ After the prize ceremony, Dhoni himself came to me expressing his nwish to meet the constable. But I was taken by surprise and a bit scared too about the condition of my staff. So I also went along with him to the dressing room. But Dhoni, drenched in seat took out his gloves, signed ‘Mahi’ on it and presented it to the constable and shook hands with him.”

After realizing his mistake the Super Kings and the Indian Cricket Captain M S Dhoni put his arm around the constable who was shouted for doing his duty (left) and constable Shivakumar shows the batting gloves with MAHI signed on it gifted to him by M S Dhoni later the same night (right).

It was a unforgettable evening for Shivakumar who joined the department just five –years ago. “My first posting being Cubbon Park station, I have covered many tests, one-day matches and taken autographs of all players. But this is the first time that a player came in search of me acknowledging my duty and presented me with his gloves,” Shivakaumer said.

Maha Kumbh Mela (Simhastha) a Parva of Religious Importance

In month's of April - May 2004 during my stint with the Hindustan Times in Bhopal, I was specially deputed for all the three Shahi Snans (Special Bathing) in Ujjain during the month long Maha Kumbh Mela which takes place once in 12 years on the banks of river Kshipra in front of Mahakaleshwar temple.

Simhastha is the great bathing festival of Ujjain which is celebrated in a cycle of twelve years when Jupiter enters the Leo sign of the zodiac, known as Simha Rashi.
Ceremonial bathing in the holy waters of river Kshipra begin with the full moon day of Chaitra and continue in different intervals throughout the successive month of vaishakha culminating on the full moon day. Tradition calls for ten different factors to be located for the grand festival at Ujjain. According to the Puranas, the legendary churning of the ocean by the gods (Devas) and demons (Danavas) yielded, amongst other things, a jar (Kumbha) full of nectar (Amrita). Gods did not like to share it with demons. At the instance of Lord Indra, the master of Hindu Gods, his son Jayanta tried to run away with the jar and was naturally followed by some of the demons.
During the struggle for its possession lasting over twelve days in the heaven, a few drops of the nectar dropped at the four places, corresponding with Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik on the earth. The Drops of nectar were well received by the holy rivers at these places. It is to commemorate the sprinkling of this nectar into the sacred waters of Kshipra that the Simhastha festival is celebrated at Ujjain.
Festivals at the other three places are known by the more popular name Kumbha. The cycle of twelve Years is common to all the four places. As the struggle for the possession of the nectar-jar (Amrita-Kumbha) lasted for twelve days in the heaven, the corresponding period turned out to be twelve years on the earth, for the human beings.
Different planetary positions, like the crossing of Jupiter into Leo sign and certain other conjunctions for the fair at Ujjain, are noted for the Kumbha-fair at these other places also.
Besides being a city of remarkable cultural traditions, Ujjain is cited among the seven cities of sacred merit in India. Mahakaleshwar temple and the holy Kshipra river have always attracted countless people to visit Ujjain through out the year for ages. The crowd of pilgrims and saints of various sects running into millions during the Simhastha presents a picture of mini India at Ujjain and one can well visualize here, as to what invisible forces bind this great Nation together.

These are some of the images which displays the various sects of Hindu sadhus and also showcases them as they wish to be portrayed.

The Priests of Mhakaleshwara temple performing the daily ritual of "Kshipra River Aarti" on the banks of the river at Ram Ghat in Ujjain. Hundreds take part in this aarti every day which takes place during sun rise and again at sun set.

The partly crowded Ram Ghat in Ujjain on the eve of the Shahi Snan. More then 3 corer people from all over the country take their holy dip in the river Kshipra, once in 12 years over a period of one month.

A Sadhu from Ayodhya walks into Ram Ghat with the burning lamp which he had carried with him through out his one month walk to Ujjain (left) even as thousands of sadhus come into Ujjain to take part in the month long Simhastha which begins with the first with the holy dip at river Kshipra once in twelve years.

Shaivite: In Hinduism, worship of the god Shiva. It is an important part of the Hindu tradition, particularly in southern India. Shaivite ascetics often smear their bodies with ashes, keep their hair uncut, and carry a trident. Shaivism stresses asceticism and meditation.
One of three main forms of modern Hinduism, centred on the worship of Shiva. The earliest of the cults devoted to Shiva date from the 4th century BC. Texts written by devotees of Shiva in the 3rd century AD are the basis of Tantra in Hinduism and other Indian religions. Today Shaivism includes diverse movements, both religious and secular, all of which take Shiva as the supreme and all-powerful deity and teacher and view gaining the nature of Shiva as the ultimate goal of existence. This is believed to be brought about by the performance of complex rituals. Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer, revealer and concealer of all that is. Shaivism is widespread throughout India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, mostly. Notable areas of the practice of Shaivism also include parts of Southeast Asia like Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
*** Courtesy Wikipedia ***

Vaishnavaite: Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or his associated avatars, principally as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God.This worship in different perspectives or historical traditions addresses monotheistic God under the names of Narayana, Krishna, Vāsudeva or more often "Vishnu", and their associated avatars.It is principally monotheistic in its philosophy, but not exclusive, although the Vaishnavas teach that Shiva, the main God of many Hindus is only a servant of their god Vishnu. The followers of Vaishnavism are referred to as Vaishnava(s) or Vaishnavites. A large percentage of Hindus are Vaishnavas,with the vast majority living in India. Awareness, recognition, and growth of the belief has significantly increased outside of India in recent years. The Gaudiya Vaishnava branch of the tradition has significantly increased the awareness of Vaishnavism internationally, since the mid-1900s, largely through the activities and geographical expansion of the Hare Krishna movement, primarily through ISKCON and more recently, through several other Vaishnava organizations conducting preaching activities in the West.
*** Courtesy Wikipedia ***

Sadhus enroute to the Simhasth in Ujjain take a break at the Gufa Manadir temple in Bhopal on. During their break they watched 3rd ODI between India Vs Pakistan on April, 2009 (left) as another baba cools himself under a fan even as his colleague takes a afternoon nap at an akhara in Ujjain (right).

VHP President Ashok Singal Seen along with Jagat Guru’s of various Mutt's at the Hindu Conference in Ujjain during the Simhastha . The Conference passed a resolution of a " Hindu agenda for the state of Bharath" (left ), as Jagad Guru Swami Vasudevanad Saraswati addressing the VHP workers and members at the Hindu Conference in Ujjain, (right). The Conference passed a resolution of a " Hindu agenda for the state of Bharath" and demanded that the central government to , restore the Ram Janam Bhoomi to the Hindus, release all temples from Government Control, Ban Cow Slaughter, Ganga river Purification and have the common civil code for national integration amidst various other demands.

A naga sadhu from Uttra pradesh poses with a toy gun at his tent in the Dutta Akhara (left), as another Sadhu calls his relatives from a mobile phone depot from his akhara near the Ram Ghat in Ujjain during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

A Small boy seen selling the new trishuls at an akhara to the thousands of sadhus and sants who have thronged the Ram Ghat (left), even as sadhus from various parts of the country arrive near the Ram Ghat in Ujjain for the First Shahi Snan (Emperor's Bath) during the month long Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela.

Ram Giri Baba and the Mukhi of the Juna Akhara chats with one of his fellow sadhus (left) as another baba cools himself under a fan as one more takes a afternoon nap at an akhara in Ujjain during the Maha Kumbh Mela.

Two foregin sadhus Tom and Erric roll a stick to be had even as their pet dog Jhonny looks on near the Ram Ghat, in the Juna Akhara area (left) as other foreign tourist who have come from various parts of the world sit on the steps to the Ram Ghat to watch the Sadhus taking their holy dip at the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2004 at Ujjain.

Sadhus from various Akhara's sit and pray inside a circle with burning cow dung which is dried, after their early morning bath everyday. This prayer in silence goes on for 2 hours or sometimes even to 6 hours per day (top left) and at the end of their prayers they blow their conchs to signal that their prayers have ended (top right and below left). A Naga Sadhu shows the power of his penis by taking the wait of another naga Sadhu standing atop of the rod rolled around his penis at a akhara in Ujjain during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela (below right).

THE HOLY DIP - SHAHI SNAN (EMPEROR'S BATH)

Thousands of Naga Sadhus led by Ram Giri Maharaj of the Juna Akhara rush into the Ram ghat and face the Mahakaleshwar temple before the taking their holy dip into the river Kshipra in Ujjain to kick start the month long Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela in 2004.

Hundreds of Naga Sadhus run into the river Kshipra during the first shahi snan (left) and they sprinkle and splash water on each other. These drop of water is very scared to them and usually they are clashes between the two sects of the Hinduism during the Shahi snans.

Sadhus perform the Sun god pooja on the banks of the river Kshipra after their holy dip during the 2004 Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain.

Sadhus and sants offer a pooja to the half submerged Shivalinga on the banks of river Kshipra (left) as police and volunteers help an elderly Sadhu back to he steps after his holy dip in the river at Ujjain in he 2004 Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela.

Sadhu and a Sadhivi in different postures on the banks of Ram Ghat pray to the Sun god after their holy dip at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain in 2004.

A Naga sadhu relaxes in is tent facing the Ram Ghat aftre his holy dip (left) as another young sadhu walks woith his pet after taking their holy dip in te river Kshipra in Ujjain at the Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela in 2004.




Myself with a volunteer in the knee deep bridge connecting the two sids of the river Kshipra at Ujjain during the month long Simhastha Maha Kumbh Mela in 2004.





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