As Mrs Steve Jobs has a VIP Kumbh experience, for ordinary Kalpvasis, this year’s event is more expensive – and expansive

She is set to participate in Mauni Amavasya on January 29, alongside seers, saints, and other VVIPs.

Powell arrived in India earlier this month and visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi on January 11. Dressed in a peach-yellow salwar suit with a rakshasutra on her arm and a rudraksha mala around her neck, she received a warm welcome at the camp at Maha Kumbh on Sunday.

While Powell and other VIP attendees are experiencing the Kumbh with relative ease, for ordinary Kalpvasis, the going is a little tougher.

For those observing Kalpvas, the costs – both financial and physical – are significant. Firewood, carpets and basic bedding are sold at inflated prices, with some pilgrims spending upwards of Rs 1,00,000 on their stay.

While officials have tried to ensure adequate tents and support for Kalpvasis, demand has outstripped supply. Late last week, many Kapvasis carrying empty jars protested against the lack of water at their camp.

Additional district magistrate Vivek Chaturvedi told The Indian Express, “We are facing issues of water, sanitation and electricity shortage in these areas since the Kalpvasis began arriving. The entire administration is focused on these problems. We will iron out these issues in the coming days.”

During Kalpvas, devotees stay at the Sangam for a month under a strict regiment of prayers and discipline. They take three holy dips in the Ganga, engage in chanting, meditation, worship and attend spiritual discourses. They eat only once a day. It is estimated that around 10 lakh devotees will observe Kalpvas.

Uma Niwas Pandey, a 70-year-old farmer from Kaushambi district, is attending the Maha Kumbh for the first time. Having spent Rs 15,000 on a tent with no electricity or heating, he relies on firewood to stay warm. His first dip in the Ganges on December 10 was followed by a second, which left him ill with swollen hands. “We had to transfer everything to the tent after I fell sick,” he said. Ambulances are available, but are parked a considerable distance away, devotees say.

For others like Sita Ram Baba, who came from Kanpur, this year’s Kumbh has been marked by escalating costs – from firewood to milk and vegetables. “Renting a tent costs Rs 5,000, while access to a private washroom adds another Rs 5,000, a sharp increase from the Rs 3,000 charged during earlier gatherings,” he said.

Anjana Tripathi, a 53-year-old observing Kalpvas, said, “It’s gotten better, but the upkeep still needs improvement. My camp is far from the ghat and access is difficult. I walk with my family for an hour every day. The VIP ghats have the best facilities.”

Rohtash Mishra, a 55-year-old farmer from Kaushambi, estimates his total expenses for this year’s Kalpvas to be Rs 60,000. This includes daily donations to saints and offerings of rice, sugar, and other essentials. “Without these, you cannot partake in the bhandaras. Those who cannot afford this bring their own tents and sleep by the roadside,” he said.

Girja Shankar Rajan, a businessman from Delhi and a first-time Kalpvasi, has accompanied his 90-year-old mother to the Kumbh. He has rented a tent for Rs 15,000 and spent an additional Rs 3,000 to construct a private toilet.

Uma Kant Upadhyay, a retired revenue inspector who assisted in the 2013 Kumbh, said the larger scale this year has posed challenges.

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