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Japanese woman performs meditation in Ardh Kumbh
by Virendra Pathak

     Allahabad: Keiko Aikawa, a Japanese woman, is one of such tourists who got so much influenced by the Hindu way of life that she opted to spend three days under a pit to seek salvation during the ongoing Ardh Kumbh festival here. Inside she performed meditation under extreme whether conditions. Aikawa, a disciple of noted Pilot Baba, a holy saint in District Nainital of Uttarakhand, came out of the nine by nine sized pit after spending an intense 72 hours. She entered it on Thursday. Ajkawa didn't take food and water for three days, said she prayed for peace in life. "I want peace in life and no suffering," said Ajkawa.

    Her Guru Pilot Baba termed the method of "Samadhi" (intense meditation) as going beyond physical feelings and developing a state of mind, which is beyond an explanation of words. "In samadhi, there is no body or mind. Samadhi means total silence, a feeling of nothingness, no activity or experience," said Pilot Baba. As a huge number of seers, saints and devotees from across the country are flocking to Allahabad for a holy dip at the Sangam (the confluence of River Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati) during Ardh Kumbh festival, a large number of foreign tourists are also getting drawn to its religious fervour. Tourists from all over the world have flocked to Allahabad to participate in the Ardh Kumbh festival, which is held once in six years. On the peak day "Shahi Snan" or, the Royal Bathing, over five million faithful took a holy dip at "Sangam" . The holy dip is believed to cleanse oneself of all sins. The main festival "MahaKumbh" comes once in 12 years.
-Jan 22,  2007

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