100 Naga Sadhvis From Nepal te take Holy Dip on April 22

Ujjain, April 20, 2004: More than 100 Mais or Naga Sadhvis have come all the way from Nepal to take the holy dip in river Kshipra during the Shahi Snan in Ujjain on April 22.
The Maiwada Akhara adjoining the Naga Babas Akhara in the fair area has added a lot of color. Most of the Naga Sadhvis are around 40 years of age and above, while some are below the age of 20.


The group flew to Indore via New Delhi8 before reaching the Smihastha Mela last week.

According to Mai Heera Giri, who is the leader of the Nepalese woman's group, they would join the Naga Babas in the Snan on April 22. When asked how many times she had visited the Simhastha, she replied that this was the fourth Simhastha Mela that she was attending and added that the scene had considerably from her first trip.

Mai Heera Giri getting ready for the evening pooja at her tent inside the Mai Akhara.


When asked as to why she became a Sadhvi, Mai Heera Giri said that most of the Sadhvis back home in Nepal belonged to affluent families and had become Mais aftre facing a lot of personal problems.
As for herself, she said that since she was born to her father's first wife, his second wife threw her out of the house. Around that time she met a Naga Baba in the Himalayas and decided to become a Mai.
Another Mai, Sona, said that she could not tolerate her husband having an affair with another woman and thus she opted to become Mai. With a smile she said that she is very happy now as she had the opportunity to serve the Hindu community. He statement is also endorsed by Mai Heera Giri.
When asked whether Mais smoked grass, she said that it was not a regular habit, but they do smoke occasionally to remain in a 'happy mood'.

The Nepal Mais along with their counterparts from India bath a Sadhu which they say is a divine blessing as they have adopted these sadhus as their gurus.
*** Scroll down for more on Simhastha ***

Christian Missionaries arrive in Ujjain to serve Hindu Holy men

Ujjain, April 4, 2004: A group of Christian missionaries has arrived in this holy town of Ujjain to serve the Hindu hole men and pilgrims who have descended here to take part in the month-long Simhastha Mela (fair). The missionaries belonging to the catholic Diocese of Ujjain opened a tented dispensary in Badnagar on Saturday to treat the saints along with the lakhs of pilgrims who may need medical treatment due to the extreme heat wave conditions.
" The dispensary will be functioning till the mela gets over on May 4. It will have four doctors, one pharmacist and seven nurses, who will work from 8am to 8pm. " If need arises we will open the dispensary for 24 hours," said Jose. " We will not charge anything from the patients," said Father Joseph K, who managing the dispensary".
" Within two days of the opening of the dispensary, we have treated 42 people, " said Doctor Lissy Jose, who is the chief doctor with St Joseph's Hospital in Hoshangabad district and will be staying in Ujjain for the Simhastha Mela for a month.
" We opened the dispensary in order to show our solidarity with people of other religions. Also, we consider other people as our brothers and sisters and we want to serve irrespective of their religion," said Jose.
A totalof four doctors will be workin round the clock in shifts along with seven nurses during this one month. They inagurated their tented structure on Saturday with the Traditional Hindu rituals with sants and sadhus chanting mantras, said Doctor Lissy Jose with a smile and added that this was done keeping in mind the sentiments of the thousands of Hindu saints who have gathered here in Ujjain.

The Missionaries belonging to the Caholic Diocese of Ujjain attend to an Sadhu at the newly opened dispensary at Badnagar on Saturday. This dispensary is to treat saints along with lakhs of pilgrims who may need medical treatment due to the extreme heat wave conditions.
*** Scroll down for more on Simhastha ***

Thieves walk away with Naga's Mobil sets

Ujjain, April 26, 2004: If a Naga Sadhu were to tell you that his mobile phone is stolen, your instant reaction might be; how you managed to carry the gizmo in the first place?
However for Baba Ram Giri and Veer Giri who lost mobile phones, theft was a shocking reality. More so, because the suspects are from among the devotees who had thronged to listen religious discourses of the hermits.
Given their clouts, resources and following, losing mobile sets or such sundry belongings is not a big deal for the Sadhus. The theft, nevertheless, reflect on seamy side of the ongoing Simhastha.
Ram Giri said that he lost two mobile phones in the past three weeks at the Simhastha. The thieves, he suspects, came to listen to my religious discourse and walked away with the mobile sets.

Baba Veer Giri, another Naga Sadhu, claims to have lost two radio sets, one mobile phone and Rs 2000 during the Ujjain stay. He also suspects the thieves were from among the devotees.
However, Ram Giri Baba says thieves may take away what ever they want from us but we also have devotees coming with offer to more that make good the losses.
Lesser mortals don't have such good luck though in case fall victim to theft.
Lakshminaryan who had come all the way from Himachal Pradesh with his family was left stranded on the bank of the river Kshipra with only their under garments a week ago. All their belongings were stolen.
They tried to lodge a complain with the local police only to be told that they should have been a little more alert about safety of their goods.
Veer Giri and me footed all their bills and ensured that they reach back home safe adds one of the good Samaritans Ram Giri Baba.




Mahayogi Pilot Baba talks on his mobile to one his is devotees at his Akhada at the Simhastha venue in Ujjain, 2004.




*** Scroll down for More on Simhastha ***

Muslims to Keep Snakes away from Simhastha

Bhopal, March 29, 2004: This story happened after a friend of mine called up to tell me that some of the members of the Muslim community are heading towards Ujjain to serve the Hindu Sadhus during the one month long Maha Kumbh Mela. Read on .....

The upcoming Smihastha would be some what different as there will be a group of Muslims working closely along with the sadhus at the venue to keep the slippery reptiles away from the Hindus holy month in Ujjain.
The group of four snake charmers who have made these reptiles talk to them for ages will be there at the services of the sadhus. The group led by Hakim Babu Bhai will have a woman snake charmer also along with them to cater to the needs of any woman if bitten by a snake.
The group which is comprised of Hakim Babu Bhai, Hakim Shahid Ali, Kumari Imrana Mukhtar, Ahmed Ali and Rizwan today left for Ujjain to set up their camp alongside the venue and trek the area for the presence of reptile creatures. This is the first time that such a group has been selected to work close to the venue said Hakim Babu Bhai who was very thrilled after he got a positive nod from Simhastha incharge minister Kailash Vijayvergia.
Hakim Shahid Ali says that they are carrying the full medical kit for any kind of reptiles ranging from snakes to scorpions and adds that everything will go off well in Ujjain. They have been entrusted to catch all the snakes in and around the Simhastha venue and also to set up a base camp near Ahkada camp so that in case of snakebite then will be easy to trace and get quick remedy to the concerned patient.
So the Simhastha, which takes place once in 12 years will start with a new look from this time around with even people belonging to another religious community working for the well being of the thousands of Hindus who will throng the holy city of Ujjain.
*** Scroll up for more on Simhastha story's ***